The Horten House gets a new look
The gridded façade and generous, open window areas give the building a completely new appearance: open and inviting like the character of the Haus der Neugier.
© kadawittfeldarchitektur
The city of Aachen has taken over the Horten building as a gutted shell. The office kadawittfeldarchitektur has further developed the associated plans together with the city of Aachen in the sense of a house of curiosity and adapted them to the new concept and the needs of the VHS and city library.
It is a stroke of luck for climate protection that the existing structure can continue to be used, as demolishing the building would have resulted in 4,800 tons of CO₂ equivalent, as well as the time and cost of a new planning process. The rose spring underneath the building is also a bonus. It will heat and cool the building with the energy of its hot water. Solar energy panels on the roof contribute to a climate-friendly energy supply. The greening of the roof and parts of the façade will also have a positive impact on the carbon footprint.
The building will be barrier-free: Those who are less able to walk can take one of the elevators. Those with poor eyesight can use the guidance systems on the floor that lead to the information desk. In addition to a building plan for visually impaired people, there will also be facilities for hearing impaired people. A specialist planning office has been specially commissioned to deal with the issue of accessibility.
FAQ
How far along is the planning?
The Aachen-based firm kadawittfeldarchitektur worked with the future users, VHS and the city library, to determine what functions the building must fulfill and what exactly the needs of the two institutions are. Professionally speaking: Basic evaluation, preliminary planning and design planning have already been completed. The building application for the Haus der Neugier was submitted in February 2026.
An Aachen-based project management company has been supporting the structural development of the building since the beginning of 2026. What comes next: A planning office will take over the implementation planning. A general contractor will then be responsible for implementing the planning. The aim is to complete the building in 2029.
What will happen to the Horten façade?
The "Horten" tiles are largely dilapidated and can therefore no longer be used. Some Horten façades in Germany are listed buildings, but the Aachen façade is not one of them. Irrespective of this, the old Horten façade would not meet the new requirements of an open-plan building, as it obscures the generous light-giving window area. However, the architects took up the geometric structure of the previous curtain façade and transformed it into a modern, three-dimensional and lightweight façade grid made of recycled aluminum that frames the windows. (Pigeons will then no longer be able to stay inside!)
The presentation to the main committee of the City of Aachen in June 2025 explains the requirements and details of the façade design.Will the house be greened?
Yes, some exterior surfaces are to be planted with greenery that can take root directly in the ground or grow from large plant troughs. The top floor will be surrounded by planting, and green roofs are also planned. The entrance to the bicycle parking garage between Mefferdatisstrasse and Komphausbadstrasse is also suitable for greening.
Will the outdoor area also be upgraded?
Yes, together with the redesign of the Büchel area, the entire area will gain a whole new appeal. The urban renewal and urban design department has already taken the first steps towards planning this. In the immediate vicinity, on Büchel, a lot has already happened in recent years following the demolition of the multi-storey parking lot, see www.buechel-aachen.de. The website www.innenstadt-morgen.de/grossprojekte shows other important construction and infrastructure projects in the city center.