DKV-Residenz at the Contrescarpe

Living the latter life in style
Within the next fifteen years, every fourth inhabitant in Germany will be older than 65. The lifestyle of the aged has thus already become a major issue. Architects KSP Engel und Zimmermann have shown, through their design for the DKV private retirement home in the Contrescarpe district of Bremen, how an ambience can be created that enhances self-confidence and quality of life in the latter years. The three-winged construction with its brickwork typical of the region features 138 spacious two and three-room apartments plus 28 nursing apartments, each of which has been designed and equipped with senior occupants in mind. High-quality amenities The architecture, materials selected and interior design combine to create an understated style and elegance that permeates through each feature of this complex adjoining the “Wallanlage” park. The constructional concept provides for a range of services comparable with the standards found in luxury hotels. Generous vistas create a strong link between the interiors and the surrounding park landscape. The centre of Bremen and the main railway station are just a few minutes’ walk away. But the most important thing of all: the residential environment exudes support, safety and security. The prestigious yet discrete interior design was penned by Uta Cossmann and Claudia de Bruyn of Düsseldorf.
Their brief was to create an enclosed, harmonious appearance enlivened by an elegant, vital atmosphere. The materials selected and language of shape have been specifically aligned to the predisposition of older people. High design quality even in the smallest detail Given the exclusive credentials of their concept, it was obvious that the interior architects would also want to design the window and door handles installed in the DKV residence. The straight-lined styling adopted by Claudia de Bruyn and Uta Cossmann is characterised by a vivid contrast between the cool metal surface and a warm grip of oiled oak shaped perfectly to fit the hand. The mini-series with its refined elegance was manufactured to a high level of craftsmanship by architectural hardware specialist OGRO, a company domiciled in Velbert, Germany, with a long-standing
tradition in door furniture and fittings. Based on this customised design, the production run for the Bremen project amounted to 1,200 lever handle sets and 800 window handles. The “Create” programme from OGRO enables designers  and architects to design individual handles and similar fittings and then have them produced in almost any batch size - within a realistic timeframe and without any qualitative compromises. With this unique offering, this DORMA subsidiary has, in the meantime, acquired for itself an outstanding reputation among architects who wish to design and implement their projects through to the finest detail. A senior residence offering the highest level of quality of life and service. Warm colours, natural materials and an interior architecture specifically designed in detail. The lever handle sets and window handles were provided on the basis of the OGRO Create programme.

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