Living on the Mittlere Ring, Munich - Léon Wohlhage Wernik

<strong>Living</strong> on the Mittlere Ring,
Munich
Location Munich, Richard-Strauss-Straße
Description Completion of an existing neighbourhood, Noise protection
Status completed, competition in 2005 (1st prize)
Planning period 2005–2009
Construction period 2007–2009
Type Residential
GFA 12.250 m 2
Work phase 1-7
Client Bayerische Versorgungskammer
and Versicherungskammer Bayern
© LÉON WOHLHAGE WERNIK, Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, Fotos: © Christian Richters

Typical floor plan
Structural Engineering
Sailer Stepan Partner, München
Service Engineering
Ingenieurbüro Hausladen, Kirchheim
Outdoor Facilities
TDB Landschaftsarchitektur, Berlin
The silent courtyard with an existing building (right)
LÉON WOHLHAGE WERNIK, Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH
<strong>Living</strong> on the Mittlere Ring, Munich
The residential buildings directly adjoin with the heavily frequented Mittlere
Ring. The initial requirement for the structure was increased noise protection for
the neighbouring 1950s residential quarter. The challenge was to fulfil the noise
protection requirements while also providing quiet, high-quality living space. The
architecture achieves that and more by presenting a new, striking image in the
traffic-burdened urban space. Both the design and the colour set it strongly apart
from the surroundings. Car drivers emerging from the nearby tunnel and pedestrians
approaching from the underground or the surrounding areas take notice of the
building’s drive and its particular architectural design. The visible side of the façade
is layered: Individual façade elements are placed beside each other to appear like
a scaly gown. The colours of the different elements were kept in controlled/casual
yellow and green tones.
There are five buildings of the same type, along which the façade continues, following
the line of the curved street. The gables of the old buildings are revealed at
regular intervals between the residential buildings. The view of the row of houses
from the north strongly contrasts with the impression it creates from the south.
The entire lengthy front can really only be appreciated while driving past it, since
it cannot be perceived in a single view. A characteristic, unmistakeable sculpture is
the overall result and has already picked up the nickname “the crocodile”. At the
heads of the ribbon development, the apartments at the ring road are accessed
laterally from small covered entrance courtyards.
The apartments are oriented towards the west, towards the inner courtyard and
away from the street. While organising the floor plan, great attention was paid to
creating a roomy living atmosphere despite the limited specifications. The rooms
are openly connected to each other and all apartments have a loggia or balcony:
the so-called “green room”.
The scaled façade to the highly frequented Richard-Strauss-Straße
www.leonwohlhagewernik.de
© LÉON WOHLHAGE WERNIK, Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, Fotos: © Christian Richters