Îlot A3
by Herzog & de Meuron, Tatiana Bilbao, Christian Kerez, Manuel Herz, AFAA


Location: Cologne, Germany
Legal | Illegal is a small infill building in Cologne that turns planning constraints into part of its architectural language. A transparent, orthogonal volume follows the legal limits of the site, while a sculptural red form pushes against conventional distinctions between walls, floors and roofs. Set within Bayenthal, the project uses setbacks, regulation and negotiation as design material, creating a striking presence in the urban fabric.