The history of this terraced house is closely linked to the family history of the current owner. It is her parents' house, which stands on a long, slightly sloping plot of around 1,100 m² in the northern suburbs of Dortmund. During the years she spent in the U.S. with her husband, it was rented out as a two-family house. Now the couple, who have since become a family with two children, have returned. For Kiupel Montero Harkort Architekten, this meant converting the four storeys with around 250 m² of living space back into a single-family home for the family that meets today's living standards. They also wanted an extension with a terrace, communal areas on the first floor, private rooms on the upper floor and a converted attic as a creative and guest area.

A detailed inventory was carried out in advance. The planners paid particular attention to the statics, as the basic construction with half-timbered interior walls and wooden beam ceilings on all floors required a thorough analysis before any changes were made to the existing structure. The generous floor area was divided into many rooms and therefore did not meet the space requirements of the client's family. The aim was therefore to find a balance between open spatial structures and necessary structural components. Load-bearing elements from the existing building have become space-creating components. The cubic extension with roof terrace and large sliding window now extends the existing building. Concrete angles, which form the seating stairs to the garden, stand out as a modern element and form the transition from the building to the garden.

The highlight of the house is the open-plan cooking and dining area with a connection to the living area. The different levels, which are caused by the sloping terrain, form a perceptible separation, yet the rooms are so connected and open that they are the center of family life. The roof balcony on the upper floor is assigned to the master bedroom, which has an en-suite bathroom. The attic has a dormer window on the street side and large skylights. Components worth preserving such as floorboards, interior doors, the old spiral wooden staircase and a small round window were refurbished and reused. New levels are connected by custom-made staircases with real wood country house floorboards. The old building charm is emphasized by the terrazzo floor in the entrance area, in which the California Bear coat of arms is immortalized. The bathrooms are fitted with porcelain stoneware in a warm concrete look.

www.architekten-kmh.de

Photos:
Michael Rasche
www.michaelrasche.com

(Published in CUBE Ruhr Area 02|25)