For most people, building a house is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Yet one family of four chose to do it twice—adapting their home to reflect evolving needs and aspirations. The brief was ambitious: bringing together the design-savvy parents' vision, the sophisticated capabilities of a smart home system, and sustainable building principles. Architect Anja Engelhove, who had designed the family's first home, eagerly took on this compelling challenge. The vision was clear: a contemporary two-storey residence with a flat roof, where private quarters for parents and children occupy the upper floor yet remain distinctly separate, while the living spaces invite genuine family togetherness. All of this would be woven together with cutting-edge smart home technology.

Approaching from the winding street, the residence immediately commands attention. The entry makes a powerful first impression, setting the tone for what lies within. A paved courtyard leads to the sheltered entrance, which wraps around the corner of the building. The garages recede gracefully into the background. The choice of a brick façade served dual purposes: brick is both a sustainable, durable material that fosters a healthy, comfortable interior climate and a distinctly expressive design statement. The architects selected a light-hued water-struck brick in an unusually elongated format. Each brick is unique, and collectively they lend the façade an aesthetic richness that feels authentic and alive. Combined with the façade's recessed planes and its horizontal and vertical window ribbons, the brickwork enhances the building's sense of weightlessness. This lightness extends to the garden elevation facing south, where floor-to-ceiling windows and glass sliding doors open entirely onto the verdant landscape. The upper storey steps back strategically, creating a terrace accessible from both the master bedroom and sauna. Inside, the design thoughtfully acknowledges the site's natural topography. The open-plan layout organises living zones while preserving intimate retreats. The kitchen and dining area sits one level below the living space, aligned with the exterior pool—a seamless connection enhanced by continuous ceramic tile paving that extends to the pool deck. The living area's oak flooring radiates warmth, while the adjoining outdoor terrace mirrors this material language with timber decking.

The smart home integration here sets a compelling benchmark. Interior and exterior lighting, accent luminaires, LED strips integrated into ceiling coves, motorised window and door shading, retractable insect screens, the premium eco-friendly heating system, cooling and ventilation, pool management, and security—all orchestrate seamlessly through wireless protocols, giving residents intuitive control at their fingertips.

www.engelshove.de

(Featured in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|21)