Emergence

Strasbourg, France

Visualization © KCAP

Drawing © KCAP

Apartment Buildings

Architects: KCAP Zürich

Location: Strasbourg, France
Year: 2017-ongoing
Client: SAS-3B Strasbourg
Program: Residential tower with 73 apartments in four different typologies (townhouses, apartments with terraces, panoramic apartments and duplexes) and shared functions with a total of 4.900 m2 on 18 stories
Role: Architect in cooperation with OSLO architectes
Participating parties: CTE ingénierie (structural engineering), Solares bauen (sustainability), economie 2 (cost planning)

The residential tower ‘Emergence’ will be the first and most symbolic building of the new neighborhood ‘Strasbourg, Presqu’ile–citadelle’, a masterplan by Agence TER and 51N4E. With its 57 meters of height, the tower will become a landmark for the area located between the city center of Strasbourg and the river Rhine.
Within this new dense but low-rise neighborhood with building heights ranging from three to five levels, the tower will be the only high-rise building. Not only will it be overlooking the area and offer stunning views from the apartments. It will also become a new landmark for the city, manifesting a symbolic value for this location where Strasbourg and France are opening up towards Germany.
In its architectural expression and with its playful brick facade, the design relates to the local context of the new neighborhood, which is defined by the proximity to the water and the predominance of brick. To emphasise the verticality of the tower, the proportion of the openings is increasing in height and the facades present a colour gradient towards the top. With this façade design and the volume’s composition, the tower marks this prominent spot with its strong and slender appearance.

Starting from the triangular shape of the plot, the concept is based on a geometrical and functional approach. It offers 73 apartments with a diverse mix of typologies accommodating for various styles of living and users’ needs. The overall height is divided in four parts, each offering a different typology: townhouses on the lower levels, apartments with terraces and panoramic apartments in the middle and duplexes on the top. Each typology is visible in the façade, emphasising the playfulness and identity of the design. Living quality is the leading design principle for the apartments, expressed in generous private outdoor spaces and flexible open floorplan layouts.