The architecture firm “raumstation” converted a former bunker in Munich into a residential and commercial building. The architects chose “Fade to Grey” sandstone as the floor covering for the penthouse on top.
The high-rise bunker on Munich’s Ungererstraße was built in 1942/43 and is now a listed building. Its prominent location in the north of Schwabing – right next to the park-like Nordfriedhof cemetery and in the immediate vicinity of the English Garden – makes the seven-storey building a sought-after address.
After being sold by the Federal Real Estate Administration, the Starnberg-based trio of architects “raum-station” converted the 26-metre-high, windowless concrete block into residential and commercial units on behalf of the client Stefan Höglmaier, founder and sole managing partner of Euroboden. The project developer uses the basement, first floor and second floor as offices and art spaces. Three apartments and a penthouse were created above. Over the course of two years, the defiant tower was transformed into an extraordinary residential and commercial building.
In view of the fact that the bunker is a listed building, this is not a matter of course. The large panoramic windows are one of the few concessions to the new use. The exposed concrete in the stairwell and apartments has been retained, as has the exterior plaster. It was merely repaired and the existing natural stone was carefully cleaned. The architects had floorboards laid in large areas. For the penthouse, however, they suggested natural stone flooring to emphasize the contrast with the existing building. “We spent a lot of time finding a stone that was reminiscent of wood in an abstract way. We wanted to create a cozy atmosphere with a material that is often wrongly associated with the attributes ‘cold’ and ‘hard’,” says project manager Tim Sittmann-Haury, explaining the decision. The newly created space above the bunker was not to be dominated by “stony austerity”; instead, the architects were inspired by the vibrancy of South American vacation villas. The aim was to use a very valuable material in such a way that it did not appear intimidating, but rather invited people to let the sun in, let the wind blow through the rooms and feel the velvety surface of the STEIN barefoot.
The challenge of laying the sandstone and many photos from the construction site can be found in the current STEIN 12/2014
Order here!