Das halbrunde Zimmer

weisshaus kino // köln sülz

architect: theodor kelter

completion: 1958

a classic cinema, deeply rooted in the neighbourhood, in the style of post-war modernism. when you visit, you feel as though you’ve been transported straight back to a time when films were really only shown on the big screen and, if you missed them, you had to wait months to hire them from a video shop.

komplizen // ehrenfeld

accomplices can be spooky. or is it spooky behind the façade?

herz jesu // leverkusen schildgen

architect: gottfried böhm

completion: 1960

whilst the church building appears rather forbidding from the outside due to the continuous concrete wall, once you pass through the gate it appears all the more light and delicate. the architectural influences make you feel as though you have been transported to more southerly climes rather than the bergisches land; i, too, was quickly reminded of moorish and ottoman architecture such as i had encountered in spain, hungary or israel. but i could also see parallels with the hospital chapel at cologne university hospital, which was completed in 1965 – not only in terms of the windows and interior design, but also in the fondness for integrated courtyards of tranquillity.

corneliusstrasse // köln südstadt

bulk goods at mirrorland

krefelder straße // köln agnesviertel

another example from the ‘cologne backyards’ collection, this time just round the corner. pool blue at the end of the tunnel.

burgmauer // köln altstadt

advertising display boxes in a modern yet classic design, but adapted to their surroundings, featuring new content in a guerrilla-style approach.

helenenstraße // köln apostelviertel

the golden gate in the white wall. repetition of patterns, different materials, the same image. design instead of a boring façade

wohnpark bayenthal // köln bayenthal

architects: ulrich fischer, robert rathai & wolf krüder

built in the early 1970s

the wohnpark bayenthal is a gem of post-war architecture in the south of cologne. supported by crystal-shaped brutalist columns, the high-rise blocks seem to float above a park-like landscape. they are surrounded by slightly smaller buildings, which nevertheless blend just as harmoniously into the overall complex.

definitely worth a visit for architecture enthusiasts.

der wohnpark bayenthal ist ein kleinod der nachkriegsarchitektur im kölner süden. von brutalistischen säulen in kristallform getragen schweben die wohnhochhäuser über einer parklandschaft. umgeben sie sie von etwas kleineren bauten, die sich aber ebenso harmonisch in die gesamtanlage einfügen.

sechzigstraße // köln nippes

from my collection of cologne backyards: here is an example from nippes in its original state.

auf dem berlich // köln neumarktviertel

beautifully designed front doors in eau de cologne turquoise and gold can be seen time and again in cologne. the colour scheme simply looks elegant – there’s no other way to put it.

elisenstraße // köln neumarktviertel

the raw, unplastered brick wall of the building’s façade stands in stark contrast to the elegant entrance area, finished in black and brass.

krahnenstraße // köln mülheim

moulded brick façades are simply brilliant; anyone who’s ever watched the play of light created by the different sections as lighting conditions change will know exactly what I mean.

gereonskloster // köln gereonsviertel

which came first, the gate or the wall? in any case, it’s a fine example of inclusive design from the 1960s.

im ferkulum // köln südstadt

the post-war modernist library building of the catholic library at sankt severin is characterised by a lightness of construction combined with a focus on the essentials. the brick walls complement the strip of light provided by the continuous windows, as well as the band of slate that runs around the perimeter of the building.

helenenstraße // köln

the stairwell windows at kolping display an abstract play of colours, and the entrance door draws you in with its mesh. that’s what makes design fun.

christuskirche königsdorf // frechen königsdorf

architects: siegfried knoch

completion: 1960

this gem of post-war modern church architecture is situated in the heart of frechen-königsdorf. the combination of brick and natural stone in the banding creates a sense of movement, even though the façade is actually unadorned, and this is complemented by the church’s form, which is based entirely on geometric shapes. when I took the photographs, the weather was very changeable, with a mix of rain showers and sunshine. this created some very interesting views of the building, as the rain-dampened walls reflected the light in a unique way.

universität zu köln // köln lindenthal

the thinking shadow