REAL FRIENDS TOWER
with Tillmann Gebauer, Lukas Flierls & Lauring Geiger
As traditional nuclear family models and religion-based communities decline, new forms of community and belonging are increasingly sought. Simultaneously, housing prices continue to rise in the ever-growing metropolises of this planet. In this context, luxury gated condominium towers appear increasingly outdated.
Munich's relatively anonymous "Friends Tower" high-rises serve as an example to explore how such structures could evolve into more contemporary, equitable, and appealing housing. The speculative vision for REAL FRIENDS TOWERS transforms the two buildings into spaces that meet modern needs and support sustainable, resource-efficient living. In the redesigned floor plans the walls between formerly segregated apartments gradually disappear as the building ascends, creating shared communal spaces adaptable to diverse lifestyles. This approach allows residents to move vertically within the building to spaces that better align with their changing needs.
To enhance adaptability and foster connections between floors, an additional layer of lightweight, movable open-air lifts is envisioned, mounted on the building’s exterior. Furthermore, a light metal structure is added to the facade, forming small outdoor loggias by filling the spaces between the existing bay windows.
With its bold, construction-site-like aesthetic, the redesigned towers embody ongoing transformation and reinvention—a space for collaboration, shared living, and community where residents can participate in shaping their environment. A place for friends.