Is there such a thing as love at first sight when it comes to façade design? Architect and civil engineer Anja and Jochen Engelshove are certain that there is, having recently had this very experience with a client in North Rhine-Westphalia. The client did not want a plaster façade for their new home, but rather a very special type of brick. However, neither brickworks nor visits to reference properties yielded the desired results. It was only by chance that they found what they were looking for: the client discovered his dream brick at Anja and Jochen Engelshove's architect-designed house and decided within seconds that Wienerberger's "Polaris" brick should also adorn his own home.

What captivated the client was the understated elegance of light grey water-struck brick, paired with retro "Eros" paving clinkers for the outdoor areas—creating an aesthetically refined composition with unmistakable character. This spacious family residence—with its living quarters, pool house, and guest pavilion—harnesses the language of cubic, offset geometry to amplify the material's sophisticated qualities. Across a sprawling 1,000+ m² site, brick becomes the visual thread binding the entire ensemble together, its surface transforming with each shift in daylight and time of day to reveal fresh textures and patterns. Even the garages and garden beds have been seamlessly integrated into the design strategy, creating a cohesive whole. Here, as always, the mastery lies in the details. The striking water-struck brick in an extended modern format is laid with exceptionally thin, recessed mortar joints that echo the dark grey palette of the windows and façade panels. Precisely orchestrated projections and recesses define a protected entry threshold while generous, sheltered terraces and balconies provide outdoor living spaces. Yet brick construction was chosen for far more than visual appeal. The dual-shell system—comprising Poroton backing bricks and facing bricks—delivers superior thermal performance, economic efficiency, lasting value retention, and minimal maintenance demands. Through its sustainable, health-conscious materials and construction approach, every structure achieves KfW Efficiency Standard 40 Plus certification. Smart home automation rounds out the offering with cutting-edge integrated systems. The paving clinkers themselves excel on every front: exceptionally durable, impact-resistant, slip-proof, and fade-resistant, while allowing rainwater to naturally permeate the ground below.

www.wienerberger.de
www.engelshove.de

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|20)