Compact yet comfortable: Ursula Becker loved her new home right away. Half a year ago, the 67-year-old became tenant in the modular house in Bochum-Hofstede. Koschany + Zimmer Architekten KZA developed it on behalf of Vonovia. On Architecture Day on Sunday, the retiree took the opportunity to thank the architects‘ planners: „We feel very comfortable here.“
About 60 visitors came to the guided tours, which the Essen architects had prepared for the nationwide day of action. KZA owner Axel Koschany supplied the guests with basic considerations about the residential house. It was built from prefabricated modules and opened in December 2016 after only three months of construction.
„At the beginning of the development process, we had to think about housing and to create affordable living space on as little space as possible – fast, high-quality and cost-effective“, explained Koschany. Within one year, a modular concept was created with modules which are individually arranged according to the location. Koschany emphasized: „We are often confronted with the question of whether we build the same house everywhere. The answer is no. With our concept, we can react individually to almost every city-specific situation.“
One document is the 40 other projects in Germany that are currently being prepared. Common to all are open-plan corridors and staircases. „A feeling of generosity arises as soon as you enter the house,“ emphasized tenant Ursula Becker. She talked about the practical benefits of her 64-square-meter apartment and explained why she and her husband decided to move from Essen to Bochum.
„We have been looking for a place where we can grow old, and we have finally come to the attention of this innovative house,“ said the retiree. „It is barrier-free and gives us the feeling of being safe.“ Reducing your living space by a third is easier than imagining: „In the end you realize that you do not need many things at all.“ Once again, the Essen architects have chosen the right approach with their optimization of the surfaces.