University Apartments in Bochum
Urban Planning Context: This residential development belonging to the University of Bochum is located on the site of the former "Julius Philipp" coal mine in Wiemelshausen, on the ridge of the watershed towards the Ruhr River. The surrounding area is characterized by haphazard development dating from before 1914 and by newer residential buildings lacking significant architectural merit. Markstraße is a well-developed traffic artery connecting Bochum's southeast, with the university, and the southwest district. The site, with its surface and underground facilities, formerly served as part of the interconnected network of the large "Prinz-Regent" mine in Bochum-Wiemelhausen. The surrounding area, which lies up to four metres below ground level, was filled with spoil and developed with storage facilities and barracks. After the closure of the "Prinz-Regent" mine, the site was acquired by the "Hegge-Kolleg" for the construction of a student residence and by Westdeutsche Wohnhäuser AG, Gelsenkirchen, for the construction of housing for university employees.
