The narrow building “Am Markt 10” in Frankfurt’s new DomRömer quarter immediately catches the eye with its modern slate façade. The staggered façade with its deliberately raised gable was designed by Berlin architects von Ey.

The narrow building “Am Markt 10” in Frankfurt’s new DomRömer quarter immediately catches the eye with its modern slate façade. The staggered façade with its deliberately raised gable was designed by Berlin architects von Ey.

With just a few technical details, they have stretched the classic slate façade over the façade front like a sequin dress. The central tripartite windows are designed as bay windows and project into the street space. The classic slate cladding makes this plasticity possible without any problems. The roofing on the gable front of the top floor is also worth mentioning: it runs from the central window to the left and right, creating a mirror image of the gable front. This gives the high gable an aesthetic and elegant appearance.

More information about the slate façade from Rathscheck

Planning for the gap between buildings: Ana Rocha, architect, of the “Slim Fit” mini-house prototype, explains her approach.

The report on Ana Rocha’s “Slim Fit” micro-house was met with great interest by our readers. We took this as an opportunity to ask the architect herself to explain the details of this unusual project.

Ms. Rocha, what was particularly important to you when designing your Micro House?
For me, the decisive factor was the need and also the responsibility as an architect to contribute to a kind of “change of mentality”: why constantly occupy nature to build more and larger apartments, while many city centers offer empty plots – for example near main train stations – or plots that are only used for parking? My message with this project is: use, utilize or supplement the existing infrastructure!

Which residents did you have in mind?
I wanted to design a small but complete house for the growing group of singles who work in the city: with a normal kitchen, bathroom and enough storage space for books, shoes and so on. My aim was to create an extremely compact footprint that would allow the house to be placed in any inner-city context. The footprint of SLIM FIT is 16 square meters, less than the area of two parking spaces.

The Micro House is made of wood. What do you like about this material?
It is a living, light and sustainable material that can be shaped. That’s how I get these slender structural walls, for example.

Do you think that the future of architecture will have to look like this due to the densification of cities: tall and narrow?
I don’t have a specific vision, but as I said before: why build more instead of using the space and infrastructure that already exists? We need to reuse, adapt and fill every available space. This is the only way to leave the remaining nature alone.

What are your next projects?
I’m working on renovations. And on a new prototype for another small – “tiny” – apartment, but this time without stairs and therefore more accessible for everyone …

Plans and model photo: Ana Rocha. Object photography: Christiane Wirth.