Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 2-4 D-50672 Cologne, Germany
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Kaufhaus Breuer
Grabenstrasse 38 52249 Eschweiler - first prize
035_Kaufhaus Breuer (conversion, completed 2006) The former department store Kaufhaus Breuer, built in 1948 by Hellmuth Müller, was converted into a mixed-use building. On the ground floor a drugstore takes advantage of the inner city location. The extensively glazed floor above can be used as office or restaurant spaces. The third and forth floor were turned into handicapped accessible apartments. The building was perforated with individual courtyards in the upper two floors. The open plan apartments preserve the atmosphere of the former department store and are accessible through their own courtyard. A new staircase and elevator lead from the double-height lobby up to a common roof terrace. The building was awarded with the Architecture Prize North Rhine-Westphalia 2007. (Team: Anne-Julchen Bernhardt, Jörg Leeser, Thomas Schneider, Eveline Jürgens) Photos © Veit Landwehr