#wilhelm riphahn

wohnsiedlung bickendorf II // köln bickendorf

rosenhofsiedlung

for a long time, I had planned to drive all the way to the end of subbelrather strasse to bickendorf to visit the housing estate in the style of  the new objectivity. over the christmas holidays, I took advantage of the peace and quiet to tackle this project. nn retrospect, it was a very good idea because there were hardly any people or cars on the road to disturb me while I was taking pictures. the settlement is functionally structured with the two centres of the central square and the church connected by a road, thus creating mutual visual relationships. the houses themselves are kept simple, the variety comes from the colour concept of the contemporary cologne artists, franz w. seiwert and heinrich hoerle.

architects: wilhelm riphahn & caspar maria grod

fab concept of the façades: franz w. seiwert & heinrich hoerle

maria-ablaß-platz // köln altstadt

former concordia-haus

architecs: wilhelm riphahn & paul doetsch

completion: 1952

a classic example of post-war modernism in the rhineland is the administration building for foncordia versicherung built by wilhelm riphahn and paul doetsch. its design is simple, symmetrical and of cool elegance. i find it particularly beautiful in the early evening hours when the light shines through the windows but you can still make out the exterior façade with its natural stone elements.

film: kodacolor gold 400

grüner hof // köln mauenheim

II

architect: wilhelm riphahn