A family that had already lived in the USA, Canada, Germany, France and the Netherlands, among other places, found the ideal location for their new home between Aachen and Cologne. "We simply like the multiculturalism of the region and, of course, the fact that everyone is welcome here," says the owner happily. The selected plot forms a transition between two levels: while a residential area is located on higher ground, the plot opens up to a lively park area on the west side through a body of water. An exciting terrain for which an exciting solution was sought. A solution that had to fulfill certain boundary conditions.

On the one hand, spaciousness was required. The aim was to create a spacious villa that conveys a sense of freedom. It was also important to the clients to create a sustainable building. A wish that was fulfilled through the use of a heat pump and photovoltaic system. Last but not least, pragmatic modernity was on the wish list. As a family with all facets, it was very important to the owners that the state-of-the-art design also met their own needs for informal get-togethers. The couple found what they were looking for in the architect Egon Schneider, whose design impressed the owners above all with its mediating adaptation of Bauhaus architecture. The formal language of the cubic corpus structure gives the villa its own power and allows it to stand on its own. In contrast to the classic Bauhaus style, however, the vertical is emphasized much more by reducing the dimensionality of the upper floor. Nevertheless, the villa does not remain a foreign body, which is mainly due to the fact that the large glass fronts dissolve the boundary between inside and outside.

When it came to materials, the clients wanted to remain classic, with their choice falling primarily on marble and granite. "By partially using Magma Black granite, we have created wonderful variations within one material," says the client enthusiastically. Natural stone or stone tiles were used for the flooring, depending on the room. Living accessories were also made from these materials, which means that these elements also reappear in the kitchen.
Oversized Venetian blinds hang in front of the aluminum-framed windows, providing additional thermal insulation and underlining the cozy atmosphere of the villa.

Photos:
Lukas Krippner
www.lukaskrippner.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|24)