Five Gardens

On a spacious lot in Leonberg-Höfingen, an ensemble-style residential neighborhood is being developed, consisting of a total of four apartment buildings with 55 residential units. The buildings are arranged in such a way that clear spatial boundaries are defined while simultaneously creating an open, green central area. One of the buildings is divided into two sections by a slight offset, which breaks up the scale and achieves a more subtle integration into the surroundings.

Das NUO

Two apartment buildings are being constructed on a spacious lot; they are designed as independent structures while simultaneously forming a cohesive, community-oriented residential complex. The architectural concept is based on a clear structure: Each building is divided into two volumes by a slight offset. This differentiation allows the project to scale appropriately to its surroundings and gives the complex a pleasant sense of intimacy despite its size. In total, the project comprises 46 residential units with a well-thought-out access and circulation system. The required parking spaces are primarily located in an underground garage, allowing the above-ground areas to remain largely car-free and be used as high-quality open spaces.

48.777° N, 9.197° E
Bauwerk Wohnbau | Nufringen

Four Yards

The Project

A sensitive infill development that respects the village’s established fabric and draws on the logic of the place to create a distinctive, familiar architecture.

Four Yards is being developed within the context of Nufringen’s established village fabric. The starting point for the design is the question of how infill development can succeed in a sensitive environment without overwhelming the town’s existing identity. The legal basis for the project is Section 34 of the German Building Code (BauGB)—the new building must blend into the character of its immediate surroundings. This requirement is not viewed as a restriction, but rather as a conceptual guideline: here, architecture emerges from a precise observation of the existing built environment.

Context

Four Yards architecture evolves from the village's structure and translates the scale, volumetry, and positioning of the buildings into a contemporary, finely articulated form.

The village’s structure serves as a reference for the design. The scale, volume, and orientation of the buildings are modeled after the existing development. Rather than a single, homogeneous large-scale structure, “ Four Yards ” is divided into distinct units that embrace the village’s logic of small-scale development and carry it forward in a contemporary form.

Facade

The façade design draws on regional elements and reinterprets them, creating a familiar yet contemporary look.

The varying facade colors break up the overall form of Four Yards into distinct, recognizable elements and echo the diversity of the surrounding buildings. Folding shutters draw on a typical element of regional architectural culture and adapt it to a contemporary context. Green facades are not intended as an afterthought but are an integral part of the architectural concept: they improve the microclimate while simultaneously strengthening the building’s integration into its scenic surroundings.

Sustainability

Sustainability here does not result from technical optimization, but rather from an urban planning solution that can be accepted, utilized, and further developed over the long term.

In accordance with Section 34 of the German Building Code (BauGB), sustainability at Four Yards is not defined by individual technical measures, but rather by the durability of the urban planning solution. A building that blends naturally into its surroundings will be accepted and used over the long term—and is thus more sustainable than any purely technical optimization. Four Yards demonstrates how infill development can succeed in a village setting: not through contrast, but through building on what already exists—an architectural approach that takes existing structures seriously and develops a solution that is distinctive yet familiar.

Discover more projects

Five Gardens

On a spacious lot in Leonberg-Höfingen, an ensemble-style residential neighborhood is being developed, consisting of a total of four apartment buildings with 55 residential units. The buildings are arranged in such a way that clear spatial boundaries are defined while simultaneously creating an open, green central area. One of the buildings is divided into two sections by a slight offset, which breaks up the scale and achieves a more subtle integration into the surroundings.

Das NUO

Two apartment buildings are being constructed on a spacious lot; they are designed as independent structures while simultaneously forming a cohesive, community-oriented residential complex. The architectural concept is based on a clear structure: Each building is divided into two volumes by a slight offset. This differentiation allows the project to scale appropriately to its surroundings and gives the complex a pleasant sense of intimacy despite its size. In total, the project comprises 46 residential units with a well-thought-out access and circulation system. The required parking spaces are primarily located in an underground garage, allowing the above-ground areas to remain largely car-free and be used as high-quality open spaces.

Neckarbogen

Building F1 is being constructed on Sommerinsel in Heilbronn’s “ Neckarbogen ” and is intended to serve as an active link between Karlsee and Floßhafen. Together with the neighboring residential high-rise F4, it forms a harmonious yet clearly distinct ensemble within the urban fabric. The design follows the guiding principle “Natural. Connected. Together on Sommerinsel,” developing an architecture that integrates ecological, social, and urban planning aspects. The ground floor deliberately opens up to the city, creating an inviting base zone that brings together a variety of public uses. Flexible event spaces, a makerspace, a secondhand store, and a 24/7 supermarket enliven the public space and strengthen the neighborhood. A laundry room and communal kitchen face the landscaped courtyard and serve as a daily gathering place. On the upper floors, a calm yet lively rhythm defines the facade, complemented by regional wooden building blocks, green ceramics, and playful balconies. Inside, the building prioritizes resilience: modular bathrooms, removable partition walls, and a core made of recycled concrete enable flexible floor plans for a wide variety of life stages. A circular economy approach, KfW 40 QNG certification, photovoltaics, and a biodiversity roof with a greenhouse make F1 a sustainable building block for the neighborhood’s future.

DRAG