Approached from the semi-public turning area, the detached home in Bad Godesberg's intimate new neighbourhood reveals itself in all its architectural finesse: the cubic volumes of the double garage and main house strike a carefully calibrated balance. From the contrasting window profiles to the chimney stack, every element contributes to a coherent formal composition – one that the Bonn-based firm Schommer enriches with representative grandeur and contemporary sophistication throughout the interior.

The young family with two children envisioned a home tailored to both present needs and future growth: a dedicated "teen floor" for their children and age-accessible living topped their priority list. They also wanted the kitchen distinctly separated from the living areas, with an entrance sequence that makes a statement – anchored by a spatially immersive staircase. The site presented its own constraints: nestled in an urban courtyard alongside two other new builds and surrounded by perimeter block development. To maximize privacy toward the southwest-facing garden, the kitchen-diner was positioned as a single-storey wing connecting to the turning area within the L-shaped footprint – separate yet directly accessible from the living spaces. The generous entry hall extends visually into the living and dining zone through a floor-to-ceiling double door, which in turn opens to the terrace and garden via expansive sliding walls.

Off the entry hall lie a corridor with guest WC, utility room, and a flexible study that easily converts to a bedroom for aging-in-place. From the entry, a U-shaped staircase ascends to the upper floor, drawing light through a central stairwell and a striking, multi-paned feature window – the composition's defining accent – that animates the building's facade. Upstairs, two children's rooms and a bathroom occupy one wing, while the master suite—complete with walk-in wardrobe, ensuite bath, and terrace access—anchors the opposite side. Anticipating the children's future independence, the entire house sits above a daylit, sloped basement with its own bathroom—providing guest accommodation today and a separate apartment tomorrow.

www.schommer-architekt.com

Photography:
Annika Feuss
annikafeuss.com

(Published in CUBE Cologne 01|25)