Haus ohne Eigenschaften
Cube with no visible roofline, designed from the inside out around a square hall: O. M. Ungers' own residence in Cologne-Müngersdorf
In French, the building is called "Maison sans qualités." The architect O. M. Ungers built it as his own private home, to his own plans, and completed it in 1996.
Source: Wikipedia
At a Glance
- Type
- Residential house
- Heritage status
- Listed monument in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Location
- Kämpchensweg 58 in Cologne's villa suburb of Müngersdorf (Lindenthal district)
- Architect
- O. M. Ungers
- Form
- Two-storey rendered building on a rectangular plan
The basement of the Haus ohne Eigenschaften originally housed a swimming pool with adjoining massage and relaxation rooms, which are now used as the library of the Dr. Speck Literaturstiftung.
Architecture from the Center Outward
At the heart of the design is a square hall in the middle of the house. Ungers developed the building from the inside out, starting from this space. The rooms are laid out in mirror image. Clarity and rigorous objectivity define both the volume of the building and its floor plan.
Symmetrical Façades
The order inside carries through to the exterior: each side is conceived as symmetrical to the one opposite it. The long sides have four bays, the short sides two. Tall French doors divide each side symmetrically. At the top, the cubic volume ends without a visible roof.
Materials and Craftsmanship
Ungers chose precious materials for the interior. The walls are finished in stucco lustro, and the floors are made of limestone, terracotta and walnut parquet. The architect described the precise workmanship of these materials as an expression of "pure architecture."
From Swimming Pool to Library
The basement originally housed a swimming pool, flanked by rooms for massage and relaxation. Today these rooms serve as a library for the Dr. Speck Literaturstiftung.
Timeline
- 1996House completed to plans by O. M. Ungers
Map
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-10-20
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