Architect Robert Beyer's project centers on a single-family residence from the 1920s and 1930s—a period of profound significance in Berlin's urban development. The residential buildings of this era transformed the city into a modern metropolis. Several of these settlements and neighborhoods are now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Robert Beyer was tasked with comprehensively renovating this typical 1930s house in Zehlendorf while recovering its original character. Among the most important interventions was the renewal of the roof with a substantial 60 cm overhang, which unified the building's form once again. The roof overhang features a stepped soffit that frames the entire structure like a cornice, emphasizing its architectural integrity.

The exterior grounds have been redesigned and reconfigured topographically. What were previously sloping lawns—limiting their usability—have now been reshaped into a terraced landscape. The terrace is paved with travertine stone and cut into the sloping site, providing residents with greater privacy from the surrounding area. The facade received a composite thermal insulation system to enhance the building's energy performance and was finished with new render. On the garden side, there was originally a balcony supported by two pillars. This has been replaced by a short extension that enlarges the library room and provides additional south-facing natural light. The reddish-brown bricks of the plinth and the newly constructed boundary wall—which surrounds the entire property—are a clear reference to 1930s construction. Atop the wall sits an iron railing with a zigzag pattern, handcrafted by a metalworker. Such expressive details are equally characteristic of the building's original period.

Inside, the original staircase retained its position but was carefully restored. On the ground floor, the architect opened the kitchen to the dining room and added a cloakroom and guest bathroom. Upstairs, two formerly small rooms were combined to create a generous master bath. The bathroom features high-end finishes, including glass mosaic tiles by Bisazza, a cubic bathtub, an oak wood vanity with integrated basin, and a flush-threshold shower. The wide-plank solid wood flooring and the custom-crafted solid wood doors and frames by the joinery are equally impressive in their quality. The travertine-clad fireplace designed by the architect serves as a see-through model with glass panels on both sides, allowing residents to enjoy the fire from both the living room and the library.

www.robert-beyer.com

(Originally published in CUBE Berlin 01|20)