This residential building from the 1950’s by the former owner and architect Bruno Lambart is the inspiration for the current project name. Bruno Lambart once said that the house was the basis of his professional existence and so the building should continue to be the source of inspiration and the starting point for the formation fundamental convictions and irrefutable ground rules Nidus now stands by.

Most of all the dedication to rebuilding existing housing stock as a means to contribute to a healthier and more ecological building environment was derived from this project. But House Bruno Lambart has even more to offer: it is the perfect example of how a historical classification can transform one’s perception of beauty, how sometimes more subtle details and aesthetics that only reveal themselves at second glance and with more contextual knowledge weigh more heavily long-lasting on one’s mind. Also, how anonymous everyday-architecture is so easily overlooked but really is the backbone of our cities and built environment. But most of all, how a spirit of optimism can help transform cities and societies in less than one generation.

In connection with our research into this project, post-war modernism and townhouses from this period in Düsseldorf, we discovered the variety and quantity of outstanding examples of everyday architecture of the reconstruction years. While the landmark buildings of post-war architecture are now increasingly being recognized and placed under monument protection, there is a lack of appreciation of everyday architecture of this period. The exhibition Sehnsucht Stadt at the Nidus Architecture Gallery sheds light on such everyday buildings and and is intended as a plea for a new, differentiated appreciation of this architecture. It aims to encourage a responsible approach to the historical heritage of the post-war period.

Learn more about the research and exhibition project

The 1950’s building is located in Düsseldorf's Zooviertel, a district characterised by numerous post-war reconstructions. However, House Bruno Lambart was ahead of its time with its extensively glazed façade it references modernist American architectural approaches and could as well have been a current design. Also, as oppose to the restraint housing culture of the 1950’s, the original floor plans were innovative and daring, the living area being placed right behind the large window facing the street and allowing pedestrians to get a glimpse of everyday life inside the building.

The architectural concept therefore is based on for a respectful treatment of the existing substance: Preserving the original stylistic elements and adding something new, subtly adapting the floor plans to today’s needs, the house was not be reconstructed but rather continuously refined. The colour and material concept is based on the dark brick façade, from which the overall mood and the material canon were derived. In addition, the building was completely refurbished to make it energy-efficient. 

The result is an urban building block with a total of five residential units that confidently tells its own story and has made the leap into the present.

Learn more about Bruno Lambart in this book about him by Alexandra Apfelbaum

Everything started with a Leitz folder. For the handover of House Bruno Lambart we were expecting protocols, old rental agreements, perhaps a few static calculations from the 1950s.

Instead, we were being given the most careful ink drawings, from the facade to the holder for Bruno Lambart's drawing scroll. Overwhelmed by Bruno's love for every detail in his house, we also wanted to continue to tell the stories of our houses beyond the architecture, almost like a miniature that retains the place and captures its essence.

Of course, the first piece of the collection is derived from House Bruno Lambart - a floor lamp that was immortalised in the legendary photograph of the establishment of his office above.