Spiegelfabrik

The Spiegelfabrik housing project, located in Fürth, Germany, is a communal residential scheme with a strong social and environmental focus. Developed by Heide & von Beckerath, the project occupies the site of a former mirror factory and features two end buildings and a connecting building accessed via alternating balconies. The design balances private and public spaces, with T-shaped pillars dividing the access balconies into open areas and corridors that foster neighborly relationships. The project includes various types and sizes of apartments, communal rooms, workshops, and a parking deck. Sustainability is a key aspect, with 80% of the external walls made from prefabricated timber panels, and features such as a gas-fired cogeneration plant, photovoltaics, and green roofs. The project also includes a neighborhood center and accommodates a mix of cooperative and owner-occupied housing, with some apartments reserved for refugees and charity organizations.