Swiss Life Asset Managers celebrates topping-out ceremony for the “Viva Agrippina” project with 286 new apartments in Cologne

On 20 October, Swiss Life Asset Managers celebrated the completion of the structural work for the “Viva Agrippina” project on Riehler Straße in Cologne with a topping-out ceremony. The plot was acquired in 2017 and is part of a district development that also includes three office buildings.

With “Viva Agrippina”, a total of 286 new apartments are being built on a plot of 25 000 square metres, 88 of which receive social housing subsidies, as well as a daycare centre with 40 places. There are also plans for 648 bicycle parking spaces and 294 underground parking spaces.

“I am very pleased that with ‘Viva Agrippina’, we are completing one of the largest residential construction projects in Cologne’s city centre. The exquisite design and excellent urban planning quality add value to the entire courthouse district. The individual townhouses blend in with the villa-style architecture of the neighbourhood and also offer high-quality outdoor space,” explains Anett Barsch, Head Project Development at Swiss Life Asset Managers in Germany.

Markus Greitemann, Head of Urban Development, Planning and Building for the City of Cologne: “Demand for living space in Cologne is increasing from year to year, especially in inner-city locations. It is therefore particularly important to me to meet the complex challenges of providing high-density housing for the whole social spectrum and to make it available as quickly as possible. I am pleased that this is possible thanks to the ‘Viva Agrippina’ project. The character of the urban space is reflected in the planning concept behind ‘Viva Agrippina’ and it fits well into the neighbourhood. With its subsidised apartments, the new daycare centre and open spaces featuring play areas, it will really enrich the area.”

The planning and design is based on the urban planning concept of the architect and urban planner Professor Juan Pablo Molestina. The project was planned with the three architectural firms jack molina Architekten, Ortner & Ortner Baukunst and Molestina Architekten.

“It is exciting to see how the building work is progressing on this fascinating project. The implementation of the urban concept resulting from an in-depth analysis of the surrounding city space, the proportion and design of the buildings, the open spaces and pathways form a new element in the urban fabric,” comments Professor Juan Pablo Molestina, architect and urban planner. “The new apartment buildings blend in with their surroundings and will over time fuse with them and offer residents a new home in Cologne’s city centre.”

Apartments with a wide range of potential uses

The apartment sizes and layouts vary considerably, ranging from 1-room to 6-room units and penthouse apartments. Almost all apartments feature a balcony, loggia, terrace or garden, while the underground car park has direct access to the building.

The development is located near to the popular Agnesviertel district between the Zoo, Lentpark and Bastei in one of the city’s most attractive residential areas. The banks of the Rhine are only a few minutes away on foot. The construction company is BAUWENS Construction GmbH & Co. KG.

The “Viva Agrippina” and “Rheinzeit” developments

The “Viva Agrippina” project is part of a district development by Swiss Life Asset Managers in Cologne's courthouse district. It is built on a site that was acquired from Zurich Insurance in 2017 and has been under development ever since. In addition to housing, it includes the “Rheinzeit” office campus, consisting of three building units on Clever Straße, Worringer Straße and Mevissenstraße. The buildings, some of which are listed, have been undergoing extensive renovation and modernisation work since 2020. The office building at Clever Straße 36 has been the headquarters of Swiss Life Asset Managers in Germany since 2022.

Swiss Life Asset Managers Deutschland
Communications
Martin Marsmann
Phone: +49 151 72167783
media-de@swisslife-am.com