Not far from the center of Lindlar, the owners had purchased a detached house from the 1980s in a residential area. The basic structure of the house was good - however, it only partially met the spatial requirements of the family of four and, with its rustic mullion window façade and rather dark rooms, did not exactly look like the dream house they had found. In addition to fewer sloping ceilings on the upper floor, the owners wanted bright rooms with an open and modern feel.  

The bonfanti architects from Wiehl, who were commissioned with the renovation and conversion, retained the existing first floor including the high-quality clinker brick façade. The pitched roof, on the other hand, was completely removed along with the dormer. The extension, which had to be carried out in accordance with Section 34 of the German Building Code (BauGB) with regard to the neighboring buildings, was carried out in such a way that a fully-fledged upper floor with a clear geometry and a flat pitched gable roof was created. In the end, the roof ridge was even lower than on the original building. The extension was built using a lightweight and ecological timber frame construction method and, thanks to a high level of prefabrication, could be completed within a very short construction time after demolition of the old roof. Another advantage was that the timber frame walls could be made thinner while maintaining the same insulation standard - which also benefited the living space. The façade is characterized by cladding made of high-quality laminate panels.

Inside, the layout and function of the rooms were completely retained. The windows were completely replaced without changing the existing openings in any way. The dark entrance area was opened up to daylight with a sliding glass door. The old fireplace was also removed and reinstalled in a modern design. A ventilation system was also installed in the house to ensure a hygienic minimum air exchange. The significantly better overall insulation of the building also has a clear impact on the now lower energy costs. Despite the fact that the basic structure has been retained, the family finally has the feeling that they are actually living in their own, tailor-made house.  

www.bonfanti-architekten.de

Photos:

Wolfgang Grümer
www.gruemerfoto.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|21)