
The project is appropriate for that in the area of the former Duisburg Industriehafen, in the context of the international building exhibition Emscher Park to a populated area with attractive Grachtenlandschaft one converts. After the specifications concerning town construction of the architect's office Sir Norman Foster and of partner the two buildings form the western and southern edge of a block with high-quality dwellings, resolved into four latch plates.
House A east the Speichergracht - consists of four two-lane components. The development been made by two-lane stairways with elevators, oriented to the Gracht, in vitreous slots in the stair wells. House B - at the Stresemann road - consists of two zweispännigen components. The fronts of the stairways going through from the north to the south are total surface vitreous and enable look through in such a way in both directions. 5. Projectile is carried back as relay projectile opposite under it are situated. Far cantilevered flight roofs from precast concrete parts form the upper termination.
The meander-shaped arranged fronts result from the rhythmic change of vitreous and closed oriels, which set loggias, which are preaged to the dwellings in the east and the west. Following the industrial built volumes of the port came a brick-red terra cotta facade with accents from nature-grey fibrated concrete to the application - however not as brick-work, but as before-hung behind-ventilated front.
The terra cotta elements are fastened to an aluminum sub-construction. The facade panels used for both buildings have a length of 900 up to 1.100 millimeters and a height of 240 millimeters. The items are additionally all 12 cm horizontal formed. Thus the horizontal structure of the meander-shaped front tape is still more strongly stressed. She quotes thereby the horizontal layering of traditional brick fronts.
In the contrast for this became at the reset attica level as well as to that Yard and front between the surfaces nature-grey fibrated concrete boards dressed in terra cotta assigned. The large sized, eight millimeters of thick boards are visibly fastened on an aluminum subconstruction. They are situated in a level reset easily to the terra cotta surface, whereby a modelling of the front develops. Lisenes from aluminum disguise the developing Leibung and point the change of material.