When a family of four sought a fresh start, the architectural team at Engelshove in Neuenkirchen was ready to turn their vision into reality. From day one, the clients knew exactly what they wanted: a contemporary two-storey residence with a flat roof, private quarters for parents and children neatly separated on the upper level, and a generously proportioned ground floor designed for shared family moments. The final piece of the puzzle? Smart home technology—seamlessly marrying sustainability with innovation.

What emerged is a striking residence defined by sculptural façade cuts and rhythmic bands of horizontal and vertical windows. The upper storey steps back gracefully, revealing a terrace accessible from both the master suite and sauna—a design move that makes the structure appear to hover effortlessly above the landscape. The light-coloured brick façade is both serene and captivating. "These long-format wash-finished bricks are remarkably expressive," notes Anja Engelshove with enthusiasm. "Each one is unique, and together they create an aesthetic, one-of-a-kind character." Beyond aesthetics lies the sustainability story: brick is a natural material built to last. Inside, floor-to-ceiling glazing and sliding glass walls frame expansive views of the surrounding greenery while flooding the open-plan living space with daylight. A sophisticated material palette—ceramic tiling and oak flooring—extends seamlessly from indoors to the terrace areas, framing the outdoor pool while continuing through to the partially timber-clad terrace. Come evening, the interplay of interior and exterior lighting, enhanced by carefully positioned spotlights, transforms the garden façade into an illuminated work of art.

Lighting, LED strips concealed in ceiling shadow gaps, motorised window and door shading, insect screens, and controls for the eco-conscious heating, cooling, and ventilation systems—plus pool and security management—all operate intelligently through Wi-Fi interfaces. It's smart home design at its finest.

www.engelshove.de

Photography Credits:

Arndt Haug

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 02|22)