Garten zum Wohnen – 1st. Prize for IBA´27

1st Prize in IBA’27 – New Housing for Korber Höhe, Stuttgart, in collaborating with fatkoehl architects and atelier le balto.

How can the settlements in Stuttgart’s highly industrialized metropolitan region address the challenges posed by social, technological, and ecological transformation? IBA’27 is designed as a series of projects aiming for an integrative approach that considers materials, quality of spaces, and social relationships in this post-industrial area. The project focuses on transforming commercial and residential areas, reinventing monofunctional large-scale structures from the 1960s and 1970s, and envisioning the future of a mixed-use productive city. To achieve this, public transport hubs are reimagined as meeting places, rivers are enhanced as spaces for living and community interaction, and new connective infrastructures are developed to shape the region’s identity.

Situated on the northern edge of the Körber Höhe residential area, where urban life meets the open landscape, the site occupies a threshold between city and countryside. Our concept, Garten zum Wohnen, bridges these two worlds through the presence of nature. Architecture and landscape are interwoven, with a green promenade flowing through buildings and open spaces alike; a green body manifesting as a planted staircase and lush arcades. Along Stauferstraße, a distinct edge marks the transition to the lower-lying landscape–where the promenade softens and blends into greenery.

Trees of different spieces create dynamic patterns of light and shadow, reinforcing the dialogue between open gardens, the promenade, and the ground-floor living spaces. Each apartment features private gardens and balconies equipped with water connections. Vertical greening extends from the ground level, with the building façades and external stairwells serving as trellises for climbing plants.

The ensemble is anchored by two building addresses, located at its head on Stauferstraße and its foot on Sörenbachweg. Entrances along Stauferstraße highlight the site’s connection to the urban fabric while seamlessly opening into an expansive green space that extends outward in all directions, offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. On the northern slope of the valley, a terraced transition gently links the development to the natural greenery with its rural context. A recessed section of the façade creates a welcoming public space that interacts with the adjacent green promenade. Access to the residential units is provided via a walkway that leads directly to the central building cores of the two structures—East and West. All apartments are reached through these cores, which feature external safety stairwells designed to eliminate the need for additional technical infrastructure or designated fire access areas.

The development includes a mix of commercial spaces, residential units, a shared community room, and a variety of garden types. At the heart of the west wing, within the arcade-style ensemble, lies the community room—open on three sides and directly connected to the expansive green promenade. A covered outdoor area in front of the building creates a sheltered gathering space, while the slope opposite offers informal seating.  All apartments, except those with ground-level gardens, are fully barrier-free. Additionally, every unit meets accessibility and inclusion standards.