Protected since 1994 under strict urban conservation guidelines, the Alsterdorf Garden City exemplifies thoughtful residential planning from 1935 to 1938. Built on a regular street grid centered around a public square, the coordinated housing types gain individual character through varied floor plans and distinctive architectural details. Red brick, steep gabled roofs, and white windows define the visual language, while beech hedges frame front gardens and mature oaks enhance the public realm. Today, this harmonious blend of historic fabric and village character continues to make Alsterdorf an exceptionally desirable place to call home.

Strict design guidelines govern exterior interventions while permitting carefully considered interior modifications and rear extensions—a balance requiring genuine partnership between architect and authorities. This Cattau Architects project demonstrates how that collaboration yields exceptional results.

Though aged, the house retained substantial historic charm. The owners envisioned a generously proportioned home that honors its character—a vision requiring both technical precision and creative refinement. Lowering and extending the shallow basement created an additional living level, while a new rear pavilion accommodates an expansive wellness suite.

The compartmentalized ground floor has been transformed into flowing, purposeful space. A luminous entry with integrated cloakroom opens via a contemporary steel-and-glass door into a unified living, dining, and kitchen zone—distinct in function yet seamlessly connected. The kitchen and dining area, nestled in the garden-facing extension, dissolves into the landscape through floor-to-ceiling glazing. A covered terrace—defined by low brick walls—extends the living realm outdoors while drawing the garden's verdure inward. Above, the entirely reconstructed roof plane accommodates a new upper-floor layout separating parent and children's quarters. The result: a decidedly contemporary single-family residence that respectfully inhabits the modest silhouette of a historic Alsterdorf settlement home.

www.cattau-architekt.de

Photography Credits:

Jan Vennemann
www.jvvm.de
Fria Hagen
Torsten Cattau

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 02|21)