1960s Architecture: For many, the era conjures images of austere, utilitarian structures and mass-produced suburban homes designed according to rigid formulas. Yet by then, the acute housing crisis of the postwar years had long since subsided, and material scarcity was a fading memory. Building had become more innovative and generous—featuring varied floor levels and open-plan living spaces, for example. What was conspicuously absent during this age of rapid motorization and apparently limitless oil was adequate thermal insulation. This is precisely the challenge the Cologne-based firm Badtke Architektur faced: a 1960s riverside bungalow showing its age required comprehensive renovation and spatial reconfiguration. The result: open, flowing spaces that connect seamlessly to the outdoors, honoring the period's distinctive design language while integrating contemporary building systems and technology.

The original home boasted a generous open kitchen, dining, and living area flowing toward a tranquil, tree-lined courtyard. Realizing this vision required removing, relocating, and reinforcing numerous load-bearing and partition walls. The entire window wall was redesigned, now appearing floor-to-ceiling through the use of suspended lintels. Simultaneously, the attached garage—which included a basement—underwent transformation: the parking space was absorbed into the living area, while the basement became a fitness room with direct pool access. The pool itself was engineered to withstand Rhine flooding with ease. Strategic new window openings on the garden side frame views of the picturesque Rhine floodplains beyond. A new double garage with storage rounded out the parking solution, tucked into the front garden. Every energy upgrade was executed with careful restraint and respect for the home's original proportions. The signature flat roof received a hybrid insulation system—calculated for optimal building physics—combining above and below-deck layers. The façade insulation employs premium materials that deliver maximum performance with minimal thickness. Window openings were proportionally refined, and frames with slim sightlines were selected throughout. The existing gas heating system, along with all other infrastructure, was completely modernized with a state-of-the-art condensing boiler. "Sixties homes are routinely overlooked," reflects the architect. "With genuine appreciation for clean design, these structures hold enormous untapped potential—ready to be rediscovered and brought back to life."

www.badtke.eu

Photography Credits:

Markus Bollen
www.panoramic-art.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|23)