The base for a bright future

Passing by a building that was once a part of your life is always an emotional experience. This student residence in Hanover is more than just a place many students will remember fondly, its timeless architecture makes it a landmark for everyone entering the city.

A "social city" in Germany

Here in the Hainholz district, in the northwest of Hanover, Germany, the aim was to create a “social city”. The Hainbase student residence is part of the revitalisation of the area where, as part of a federal-state programme, public space is to be reorganised and living space to be created. All this to enhance the inhabitants living experience using high-quality contemporary architecture.

“The design was about planning an attractive, high-quality place to live for young people at the transition between the city and the periphery.“ - Max Dudler, architect.

Young minds on industrial grounds

Where there was once the industrial site of a metal construction company, the Hainbase student residence by architect Max Dudler now breathes new life into the area with 241 apartments, a roof terrace, event rooms and other shared areas.

The staggered building with a thirteen-story high point and a striking dark red brick façade references the classic industrial architecture as well as the typical North German clinker brick architecture that still characterises large parts of Hanover today. “The big issue for us was to continue to build the city of Hanover in a meaningful way at this point, to take up the history of the place and to use it to create timeless architecture that looks to the future”, explains Max Dudler.

Made to measure

One of the defining design choices of the Hainbase is the clinker brick façade. The architect has given the façade a dynamic rhythm with a relief-like effect by incorporating deep and broadly sloping reveals, which are alternately positioned to the left or right on each floor. To create this extraordinary look and feel, extruded clinker Terca Elia was installed, impressing with its dark red and grey-brown nuanced colours and creating a beautiful reflection of light and shadow. For the execution of the prefabricated horizontal parapet elements, the Elia was cut by wienerberger as a strip according to the project. The interior of the student residence is also designed to a high standard, boasting impressive views, especially from its upper floors. Architect Max Dudler wanted to connect the city to the periphery, giving young minds a place to identify themselves with:

“The design was about planning an attractive, high-quality place to live for young people at the transition between the city and the periphery. We wanted to create architecture that invites people to identify with the building and the residential project.” Passing by a building that was once a part of your life is always an emotional experience. This student residence in Hanover is more than just a place many students will remember fondly, its timeless architecture makes it a landmark for everyone entering the city.