The conversion of a townhouse undertaken by DK Architekten from Cologne in the city centre near Friesenplatz is more than just a fundamental refurbishment and modernization, but also urban repair. In 1956, the four-storey building was inserted into a row of Gründerzeit houses that were originally much taller - as was so often the case in the post-war period. The plain reinforced concrete building, which had been neglected over the decades and originally housed a private commercial school, was almost completely gutted. An additional 5th floor and a final pitched roof storey were also added to the building, creating a harmonious link to the neighboring buildings for the first time.

An elegantly structured perforated façade with floor-to-ceiling windows was placed in front of the street front. The striking eye-catcher on the outside is the new front view, which is now characterized by a symmetrically divided perforated façade with anthracite-coloured brick slips and floor-to-ceiling wooden windows. The powerful design interprets the appearance of old office buildings in a contemporary way, while at the same time picking up on the heterogeneous color scheme of the neighborhood. Another striking detail is the sculpted oak entrance portal extending over two storeys. In combination with the mahogany-colored wood of the windows, a contrasting but harmonious interplay of warmth and elegance has been created. Another successful detail is the staircase, which has been largely preserved and still exudes the lively spirit of the 1950s after the renovation. While the lower four existing floors are available for office use, space was created for a 200 m² maisonette apartment on the two upper floors of the new building. The kitchen, dining and living areas are combined on the top floor to create a spacious penthouse-like room that is seamlessly connected to the outside via large window fronts and terraces on both sides. The new elevated position provides an attractive view over the rooftops of the city. The roof space, which has remained visible, is accentuated by a gable wall made of clinker brick, into which a fireplace has been integrated. Discreetly whitewashed oak floors, a kitchen in British Racing Green and a minimalist folding steel staircase between the two levels create an ambience rich in contrasting materials. Large-format porcelain stoneware tiles were laid in the bathrooms to match. The building is heated via an energy-saving district heating station in the basement and from there via radiators and ceiling induction units on the office levels as well as underfloor heating in the apartment. There is also a central ventilation system for all rooms. The combination of old and new has created a modern townhouse with plenty of space and comfort for living and working, which is an example of the possibilities of inner-city redensification.

www.dkarchitekten.com

Photos:

Barbara Burg, Oliver Schuh
www.palladium.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 02|21)