Located in the city of Gießen, this student residence on Pestalozzistraße is a contemporary housing project designed by FerrantiSchnell and completed in 2023. The building addresses the challenge of student living through a clear architectural concept that combines sustainability, functionality and spatial quality, avoiding standardised solutions often associated with this building typology.
The project is characterised by an extensive and consistent use of wood, employed both in the primary structure and in the exterior cladding, as well as throughout the interior finishes. This material choice gives the building a strong identity while contributing to a warm, tactile atmosphere and a reduced environmental footprint. The façade system articulates the volume through rhythm and depth, creating a dynamic relationship between solid surfaces, openings and balconies.
Generous terraces and balconies extend the living spaces outdoors, improving daylight conditions and encouraging social interaction among residents. These transitional spaces play a key role in defining the building’s character, softening the scale of the architecture and reinforcing the connection between private rooms and shared areas.
Inside, the interiors are organised with clarity and restraint. Wooden ceilings and finishes establish visual continuity across circulation spaces and private units, enhancing spatial coherence and acoustic comfort. The minimalist approach avoids excess, allowing material quality and proportion to define the atmosphere rather than decorative elements.
The project reflects FerrantiSchnell’s ability to merge architectural precision with practical requirements. The result is a student residence that supports everyday life and study while offering spaces that feel durable, calm and well-considered—an example of how sustainable architecture can also be humane and spatially generous.
This photographic series focuses on the building’s material language, façade rhythm and spatial transitions, documenting how architecture, light and function come together to shape a contemporary environment for collective living.
Architecture: FerrantiSchnell
Construction: Kay Laumann
Interior Design: Joung-Klemke
