Retro Charm
Edwin Roth Metallbau + Systeme, based in Grafrath, brings extraordinary window solutions to life.
Modernist with a Bauhaus sensibility, this striking lakeside residence derives much of its distinctive character from its windows. The cassette-style glazing bars command attention, infusing the clean-lined living spaces with a nostalgic air. Yet these are no period pieces—they're brand new, marrying the aesthetic of a traditional, hand-forged steel window with the thermal performance of contemporary thermally insulated glazing. Available with either double or triple insulating glass.
These windows are engineered by MHB Steel Windows, a Dutch family enterprise with roots extending back to the 16th century, officially established in 1938 by Johan Mathijssen. MHB specializes in manufacturing premium steel windows and doors, featuring authentic profile geometries and hardware designed to impart a distinctive character to every piece. Their offerings represent, by their own measure, the world's slimmest steel profiles. Equally rooted in family tradition is MHB's longtime distribution and service partner in Germany—Edwin Roth Metallbau + Systeme of Grafrath. When owner Edwin Roth took the helm in 1991, the company had already been in operation since 1903. A trained metalworker by background, Roth brings a deep passion for refined design, architecture, and art to his work, positioning himself as a true collaborator with his clients and their architects. "I've trained myself to approach every technical solution with the aesthetic outcome in mind," he explains. This philosophy shapes projects like the lakeside residence, where old and new coexist with effortless grace. Form and tactile quality are paramount—the windows feel delicate, refined, decidedly non-technical. Exceptional, in short. Supported by a seasoned team of skilled craftspeople, master builders, project managers, specialist designers, and cross-disciplinary partners, Roth Metallbau brings even the most ambitious visions to reality. For Roth, windows represent a house's very soul: "They reveal much about a building and those who inhabit it. Beyond the crucial views they frame, it's truly the quality of surfaces and materials that transforms our windows and doors into authentic experiences. When function and essential reduction work in concert, they achieve something quite rare—a uniquely aesthetic and tactile essence," he reflects.
Photography Credits:
Adrienne Sophie Hoffer
www.adriennehoffer.com
(Published in CUBE Munich, Issue 01|22)

