Brown-to-Green in Düsseldorf: IMPACT Real Estate and Periskop Development to Develop 135 Apartments at Kruppstrasse 51

Joint-venture partners IMPACT Real Estate and Periskop Development are comprehensively redeveloping the "K51" property at Kruppstrasse 51 in Düsseldorf's Oberbilk district. A fund advised by Periskop Development has acquired the former post office and office building, together with IMPACT Real Estate, from the insolvency estate of the Interboden Group. Periskop Development is involved in the transaction as a capital partner, while IMPACT Real Estate is taking on the project development.

The building, located on the corner of Kruppstrasse and Linienstrasse, has stood largely vacant for several years and is to undergo comprehensive revitalisation. The plans call for 135 micro-apartments with an average size of around 25 sqm, totalling approximately 3,400 sqm of residential floor space. The offering will be complemented by communal areas including a fitness area, coworking space, laundry room and lounge. The apartments will be fully accessible and let with no restrictions on use, making the scheme attractive to graduates, commuters, project staff, singles and students, among others.

"Everyone in Oberbilk knows Kruppstrasse 51 – and everyone has seen it standing empty. We're bringing the building back into the neighbourhood: as modern, fully accessible housing for anyone who wants to live compactly and centrally in Düsseldorf, with a cultural space that reopens the ground floor to the district,"

says Erik Aalto, Managing Director of IMPACT Real Estate.

Dr Simon Kempf, Managing Director of Periskop Development, adds:

"The revitalisation of K51 is a prime example of a task that will become increasingly important for urban development: how do we turn difficult existing properties back into viable, future-proof places? We are deliberately focusing on developing what already exists, rather than demolition and new-build. In doing so, we combine economic good sense with a responsible approach to embodied energy and established urban structures."

Brown-to-green transformation of a distinctive existing building

The building, dating from the 1950s, comprises five storeys facing Kruppstrasse and four storeys facing Linienstrasse. The section on Linienstrasse, currently four storeys, is to be extended upwards using hybrid timber construction. The existing building envelope will otherwise remain largely unchanged. Additional balconies are planned facing the inner courtyard.

As part of the refurbishment, the building envelope, facade and building services will be comprehensively renewed. The property, currently rated by energy consultants as a "worst-performing building," is to be upgraded to KfW Efficiency House 55 standard and awarded a sustainability certification. Following approval of the optimised planning permission, demolition and decontamination work will begin first, ahead of the main conversion works.

A distinctive feature of the existing structure is its ceiling heights, which in places reach around four metres. This allows for unusual apartment layouts, including some split-level apartments with separate living and sleeping areas.

Cultural space and mobility offering for the neighbourhood

On the prominent corner of Kruppstrasse and Linienstrasse, a cultural space with a café is planned for the ground floor. This is intended to open the building up to the district and contribute to revitalising the neighbourhood.

For mobility, 31 car parking spaces are planned in the inner courtyard, along with around 100 bicycle parking spaces. A mobility concept including bike-sharing will complement the offering.

The planning application was submitted shortly after the acquisition, in close coordination with the city. The optimised planning permission for the 135 apartments is expected around the turn of the year 2026/27. Completion is scheduled for late 2028 or early 2029.

‍

‍