A gently sloping plot with mature trees and park-adjacent setting provides the ideal backdrop for a detached residence designed and realized by schrötgens architekten from Mönchengladbach. The generous structure greets the street with traditional sensibility—its eaves-aligned gable roof a nod to convention—while expansive glass facades opening toward the garden reveal its thoroughly contemporary spirit.

Set deliberately back from the street, the new building strikes a delicate balance: restrained in approach, yet unmistakably commanding in presence. Positioned at an elevated vantage point, it immediately draws attention—"the interplay of the steep gable roof creates a stature that's extraordinarily rare for a single-storey structure," note architects Jochem and Morten Schrötgens. The facade is clad in refined, light-grey clinker brick from Gillrath, lending the home the durability every family residence deserves. This quality is reinforced through substantial, oversized aluminium windows and sliding systems, complemented by elegant flat tiles that add colour contrast while seamlessly integrating the solar array into the composition. The building's contemporary character truly emerges on the garden elevation: expansive sliding glass walls dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior; a prominent dormer connects to ground level, emphasizing the generous open staircase. Here too, existing mature trees define the landscape design. An outdoor pool with basalt and exposed concrete edges, paired with generous lawn and play areas, transforms the garden into a true outdoor living room. Upon entry, residents encounter a light-filled atrium that spans both storeys and extends into the gable—the steep roof amplifying its sense of spaciousness. A linear staircase anchors the centre, illuminated by multiple skylights, while simultaneously defining the entrance zone from the open-plan living, kitchen, and dining area that flows toward the garden. Flush-mounted, floor-to-ceiling sliders allow flexible spatial organization. The fireplace commands attention from multiple sight lines on the ground floor. Deliberately restrained material choices—honey-toned oak parquetry and cabinetry, dove-blue stair carpeting, and soft wall tones—create welcoming warmth. White built-ins provide substantial storage while, paired with soft beige tilework and acrylic surfaces, emanate quiet refinement. Energy performance is driven by a geothermal heat pump with four deep boreholes, powered by rooftop solar generation. A basement battery storage system enables flexible electricity use, establishing the foundation for a genuinely energy-autonomous home.

www.schroetgens-architekten.de

Photography:
Constantin Meyer
www.constantin-meyer.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|24)