Blankenese's historically significant character is defined by detached single-family homes and expansive gardens with mature trees. While this distinctive architectural style is protected, existing buildings can be extended with side and rear additions. To create contemporary living spaces suited to a young family of four, the Meerbusch-based firm Ben Dieckmann architects BDA completely reimagined the interior of the historic structure and added a cubic timber-frame extension that nearly doubles the living area.

A sweeping four-storey airspace now floods the historic core with light and openness. Expansive rooms with minimal walls provide a flexible foundation for contemporary family living, replacing the compartmentalised layouts of the past. The cubic extension—yielding nearly 150 m² of additional living space—is defined by soaring ceilings and expansive glazing. Wrapped in dark anodised aluminium and visible only in profile, this new volume establishes a deliberate counterpoint to the heritage façade. From the garden, it seamlessly conceals the original structure. The entrance pathway guides visitors to the main entry, a pivotal threshold between old and new. Within, a newly conceived staircase rises through a lofty atrium, uniting all four floors. This functional and social heart anchors every room in the house. The 4.20-metre-tall kitchen—complete with integrated dining—anchors the ground floor of the extension as the true centre of domestic life, opening to the garden via timber sliding windows. Adjacent sits the home office, anchored by a five-metre work surface. Custom cabinetry and a cohesive colour palette, conceived by the architects, extend throughout the heritage wing. In the basement, a rust-toned cloakroom glows toward the entrance. A deep green guest bath surprises with its soaring 3.80-metre door frame beside the entry. The parents' dressing room on the upper floor showcases forest-green built-ins, visible from both hallway and kitchen. Adjacent, the master bedroom wraps in midnight blue. The upper floor reserves a gallery space for the owners' collection. The staircase culminates beneath the roofline at a bespoke sauna. Throughout, the entire house has undergone comprehensive renovation and energy modernisation. Revitalised by the contemporary extension, this heritage home embraces a new chapter.

www.bendieckmann.com

Photography:
Dirk Matull
www.dirkmatull.de

Living space: 284 m²
Plot size: 893 m²
Construction timeline: 3 years
Construction method: Solid masonry (existing), timber frame (new building)
Energy system: Air source heat pump

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 02|24)