Lindenhof
New beginnings, new neighbors – embracing village life with a bright future
  • Location
    Meerbusch-Büderich
  • Project
    Revitalization of a partially listed square courtyard
  • Client
    C&C Lindenhof GbR
  • Architect of record
    Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer
  • Technical building equipment, strucural engineering, building physics
    Sommer Baustatik, Erkelenz
  • Fire protection
    hhpberlin, Berlin
  • Landscape architecture
    studio grüngrau, Düsseldorf
  • Surveyor
    Dr. Blinken & Töpfer, Düsseldorf
  • Planning and construction period
    as of 2021
  • Service phases
    1–9
  • Plot
    1,539 m²
  • Gross floor area (AG/BG)
    2,532 m²/582 m²
  • Food service rental unit
    265 m²
  • Visualizations
    moka-studio

The Lindenhof in Meerbusch-Büderich traces its history back around 700 years, with significant developments in the 19th century. What started as a humble farmstead gradually expanded into a square courtyard complex, where various buildings served gastronomic, agricultural, provisional, and pragmatic functions, creating a village-like atmosphere. Certain sections of the Lindenhof, such as the U-shaped structures dating to 1861 and an extension from 1930, hold listed status. Notably, the restaurant on Dorfstrasse, marking the boundary of the historic village center, is the oldest existing restaurant in Büderich. The stables and farm buildings in the northern portion of the property, all damaged during the war and hastily rebuilt, as well as the gateway on the western flank, will undergo a transformative redesign for their new purpose. We will breathe new life into the Lindenhof through sustainable renovation practices and the thoughtful addition of new buildings, creating diverse and contemporary living spaces while honoring the site’s longstanding gastronomic tradition.

Designing for Community

In the confined space of the courtyard, we are blending old and new to create a cohesive whole. The connection wing of the listed building is undergoing refurbishment, upgraded for energy efficiency and expanded as needed. The apartments we’ve envisioned reflect the diversity of the existing structures: smaller or larger, single-level or multistory, with terraces overlooking the roof or courtyard – all compliant with historic preservation guidelines. The restaurant will retain its pivotal position on the village street, where a newly planted linden tree will provide a charming outdoor dining nook. New buildings styled after the existing ones will enclose the courtyard, including two sections housing three 3-story townhouses, similar in cubature and scale, built entirely of timber. All dwellings will be accessible via the courtyard, where the historic paving is interspersed with lush greenery. A newly planted linden tree will serve as a community gathering spot, complemented by a small sandy play area for children. Residents can see each other when they want to – the apartments face each other – while strategically placed plantings offer privacy. The bicycle storage room and the entrance to the car elevator of the underground parking garage, which also accommodates cargo bikes, are situated along Friedhofsweg.

Designing for Tomorrow

We are working in harmony with the existing buildings, not against them. We’re adding to the building ensemble without sealing new ground surfaces. The revitalization of the Lindenhof is being planned with a high sustainability standard – in construction, usage, and beyond. Careful selection of building materials and structures optimized for circular use minimizes the project’s carbon footprint. All building materials, both in the existing and new structures, are documented in the MADASTER material register. This digital database ensures that future generations can access comprehensive information for targeted reuse. That’s precisely what we’re doing in the courtyard, where we’re reinstalling the historic cobblestones, preserving their intrinsic value and character.

Project team