Kockerellstrasse 17-19

Following the demolition of the old buildings, the new buildings at Kockerellstrasse 17 and 19 were constructed in 1974. The change in the proportions is remarkable: The two old buildings had two and three storeys with three window axes each, whereas the stately façade of no. 17 today has four storeys and six window axes. Nevertheless, it blends in with the historic overall appearance of the street. In contrast to the other translocated façades on Kockerellstrasse, No. 19 is divided into two parts, with the left-hand part having a historical design and the right-hand part a modern one.

The façade used at no. 17 originates from Rosstrasse 52-54, which was refurbished and the window crowns on the second floor were replaced. Just how far-reaching and formative the interventions in the urban structure were can be seen from the fact that a new building with a translocated façade was erected in place of the demolished house at Rosstrasse 52-54. The left-hand façade of house no. 19 consists of parts of the former predecessor building. The few selective additions can be recognized in part by the different colouring and sharp edges of the ashlar material. The bluestone walls of the first floor were already missing in the original building, which is why the new, high windows have been replaced with sculpturally shaped concrete elements. The brick material, concrete lintels and storey heights here quote the left-hand façade in a modern form, but are arranged less regularly. With their striking, protruding concrete elements and irregular window formats, the rear sides of the buildings facing Augustinerplatz form a contrast to the balanced historical façades of Kockerellstrasse.

While the façades of buildings 17 and 19 feature historical elements, the rear sides form a modern counterpart with striking, protruding concrete elements.

Architects Wolks and Nikolaus Hühnerschulte received the German Architecture Prize for the buildings at Kockerellstraße 17 and 19 and Annuntiatenbach 3 in Redevelopment Area I. They were also active elsewhere in Aachen, such as on the renovation of the Barockfabrik and the Cathedral Treasury in the 1970s. Together with Hans Haas, Wolks also designed the new building at Hof 20.