Wilhelm Riphahn in Cologne (1913-1963): Urban Policies and Social Housing between Innovation and Conservation

An urbanist actively involved in social housing, a prolific designer and a rigorous developer, Wilhelm Riphahn (1889-1963) fulfilled the controversial role of ‘modern architect’. An intellectual and professional who can be included among the most interesting - yet least studied - members of the German Neues Bauen, he was one of the protagonists of the exemplary neighbourhoods of Dammerstock (1929) in Karlsruhe. He designed several neighbourhoods on behalf of Gemeinnützige Wohnungsbau AG Köln. In the 1920s, his pragmatic and operative attitude enabled him to initiate a functional and aesthetic revolution in the conservative world of affordable construction, the outcomes of which went well beyond the period after World War II. From 1918 to 1938, Riphahn brought to completion social neighbourhoods that had a remarkable urban impact in the troubled political context of the Rhineland between the two wars. His tireless energy led to a profusion of work in the infrastructural reconstruction of the battered city of Cologne up to the years of the German economic boom. Riphahn left significant and vibrant construction projects, such as the Britisches Kulturinstitut (1950), the fine urban complex of the Kölner Oper (1954-1957) and the Schauspielhaus (1962). The article focuses on the Siedlungen of Cologne and compares their original compositional features and exemplary character, which continue to have an impact within the context of social housing

“The Withdrawn Sea” Urbanistic Paradigm of Mediterranean Cities: Role/Meaning/Function

The forces governing the “rights” and the conflicting interests of the earth and the sea in the relationship between gea and thalassa is an age-old conflict: a physical and literary topos mediated by a lingua franca, made of stone and of different civilizations. We are obviously talking about the Mediterranean city. Cosmogony and Hierophany, handed down in traditional and pre-modern cultures,show the intimate link between Cosmos and Chaos, whose intensity and permanence have permeated the lives, the customs and the visual and spatial experiences of Mediterranean populations3.In the Mediterranean, two cultures met and clashed. They had experienced the sea from vastly different perspectives due to their diverse approaches and mindsets. Even Hesiod, in The Theogony, recalls how Pèlagos, plaga (lat.), i.e. ‘water plane’, is an expanse “without sweet union of love”.“Sea”, where the deity appears as a terrifying threat to Man. The ancient Mediterranean sea gods show indifference, or even more often are hostile towards activities carried out on the sea or on its shores. At the height of its development and domination of maritime trade, the Greek-Mycenaean civilization venerated the cult of Poseidon [ποσειδῶν], numen of sea and horses. At first superior even to Zeus, he transformed himself into a god of conflict, having lost his primacy in the Cosmos. His resentful and wicked nature toward humans is revealed in outbreaks of chthonic elements and forces: his epithet was έ(ν)νοσίγαιος (“earth shaker”), cause of earthquakes and cataclysms. Although known by a different name in the Mediterranean, the god of the sea showed a common trait in his hot-tempered and greedy temperament, placated and satisfied only by sacrifices and festivals [Geroèstie] in his honour

The re-codified town. Public space and “utopian pragmatism”

European towns are going through their umpteenth and uncertain structural phase intertwining, with unpredictable outcomes, with scenarios of economic recession and crisis in life-style models. “Town recoding” indicates the set of actions aimed at containing urban hypertrophy, while responding to the demand for housing, mobility and quality services at affordable costs. Many solutions from Urban Renewal– from densification to spacing and retrofitting – do not sufficiently consider the issues linked to the perception of (and demand for) urban safety and security . The creation of “grey areas”, at risk of degradation in residential districts and public spaces, may nullify the regeneration effects. From the Halensiedlung (Bern, Atelier 5, 1950) – to the latest eco-villages and eco-districts, the realization of ”happy de-growth” is taking shape, with anti-global features. Similarly, a great deal of Co-Housing initiatives applies a sort of “on-demand” neighbourhood, de facto scarcely “inclusive”

Technological Shells | Technological Ruins. Experimental theatres between innovation and architectonic rehabilitation

The reuse of industrial buildings and the functional rehabilitation of dismantled structures are part of a consolidated operational practice which has generated, over the last decades, all over Europe, a considerable number of auditoria and theatres of small to medium size. In Italy, the constellation of special and experimental structures of the Turin-based theatre system, can be considered amongst the most vital and innovative in the European Union scenario. The practice of consolidation and functional activation of so-called “theatre ruins” includes many excellent examples in the architectonic and preservation field. The rehabilitation case of the former "Cinema-Teatro Astra" [Bonicelli, 1930 | Magnaghi, 2006] is a good example of philological restoration techniques intertwine with original technological solutions. The adoption of so-called “technological shells” is a factual answer to the requirement of harmonizing the preserved asset and reversibility criteria with contemporary architectonic expression

Technological experimentation and heritage: the preservation of installations.[Villa Hügel,Essen]

Only recently the discipline of architectonic heritage preservation has acquired the chapter of so-called “technological installations”. They also represent the main contribution given by the industrial revolution, since J. Watt onwards, to the building sector while introducing dynamic components and specific designing, building and assembling rules. Such solutions have followed up the historical development of architecture and technology throughout the 18th-20th century, so improving related performance levels. That has also changed their use habits – giving birth to the concept of “comfort”- as well as night-time functioning thanks to the artificial lighting of buildings and manufactured articles. There is a limited number of architectonic heritage works which are preserved because of their technologically-innovative features: Villa Hügel (1873), Essen is among those monuments whose installation features clearly prevail on its architecture

The re-codified town. Public space and “utopian pragmatism”

European towns are going through their umpteenth and uncertain structural phase intertwining, with unpredictable outcomes, with scenarios of economic recession and crisis in life-style models. “Town recoding” indicates the set of actions aimed at containing urban hypertrophy, while responding to the demand for housing, mobility and quality services at affordable costs. Many solutions from Urban Renewal– from densification to spacing and retrofitting – do not sufficiently consider the issues linked to the perception of (and demand for) urban safety and security . The creation of “grey areas”, at risk of degradation in residential districts and public spaces, may nullify the regeneration effects. From the Halensiedlung (Bern, Atelier 5, 1950) – to the latest eco-villages and eco-districts, the realization of ”happy de-growth” is taking shape, with anti-global features. Similarly, a great deal of Co-Housing initiatives applies a sort of “on-demand” neighbourhood, de facto scarcely “inclusive”