Stock in transition.

This project is characterized in particular by its high standards of design and materiality in existing buildings. The client wanted a modern, timeless aesthetic with straightforward shapes and no superfluous embellishments.

This resulted in the guiding idea of staging the existing building as a white monolith and integrating the new building into the existing structure by means of an insertion. At the same time, the façade of the existing building was modernized and visually adapted to the new building in order to create a uniform appearance. Large glass surfaces and outdoor areas facing south and east allow residents to enjoy the unobstructed view and create a harmonious connection to the surrounding landscape.

By extending the existing building, there is now room for two or three generations in the house. There is a feeling of living together under one roof, yet the privacy of the individual parties is ensured by separating the floors: The client's parents live on the upper floor, while the young family uses the first floor. The entrances are located on the east and west sides of the house, further emphasizing the separation of the areas.

The client's wish for a wind-protected outdoor area was met by adapting the structure of the new building accordingly. A cut into the volume creates a niche with sufficient space for seating. This creates a dissolution of the building structure and the façade of the building itself acts as a windbreak. The atrium, which is located in this area, allows views of the natural surroundings as well as glimpses into the interior of the house, depending on the point of view, and conveys a feeling of security thanks to the wooden framing. The sliding elements installed in the atrium also ensure that the outside space is integrated into the interior, blurring the boundaries between rooms.

In order to minimize the building's footprint, the car parking spaces, various ancillary rooms and the main entrance to the new building were located in the basement. This type of access was achieved by means of a ramp. A black steel staircase leads from the entrance to the first floor. Large glass surfaces create a bright and light-flooded atmosphere. Moreover, the staircase not only provides vertical access, but also creates a special play of light together with the incident sunlight, making it a visual highlight.

When ascending the staircase, the deliberately chosen alignments in the building become noticeable, as they allow views outwards to the atrium and thus create a visual connection between inside and outside. A bush-hammered exposed concrete wall, which runs through the floors in the staircase, acts as an aesthetic element and also gives the project a special architectural presence.

The high air space in the staircase creates a generous feeling of space. In order to carry this into the living area, the entire new building was designed with a ceiling height of around three meters. Numerous open areas in the interior create additional flexibility and comfort. The room boundaries in the interior are deliberately blurred to create a seamless connection between the different areas. Despite the airy spatial concept, the house offers separate areas for children and parents. The open-plan master bedroom, for example, has a walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom.

This project impressively demonstrates how versatile and modern building in existing buildings can be.

To the project overview