A Cologne family's commitment to staying in their neighbourhood led them to an unexpected discovery: the perfect home was next door all along. When the neighbouring 1935 townhouse became available two years after its elderly owner's departure, the young couple and their two children knew they'd found their place. Hayner Salgert Architects from Düsseldorf guided the comprehensive transformation, delivering a fully renovated, energy-efficient home that seamlessly accommodates modern family life. Every decision—from structural upgrades to interior reimagining—was driven by one guiding principle: preserve the character, enhance the living experience.

The home's restrained façade and modest presence appealed to the clients from the start, and this character was carefully preserved throughout the renovation. Mineral insulation was applied to both the roof and street-facing elevation. The garden-side balcony was thoughtfully expanded to align with a 1953 extension, creating visual continuity. Street-facing windows deliberately echo the building's original proportions, while the garden side opens generously—large wooden swing windows and expansive glazing flood the interior with daylight and views. The dormers were maximized to transform the top floor into livable, light-filled space. At the heart of the home stands the original oak staircase, an essential connector linking the living quarters on the ground floor, parents' retreat on the first floor, and children's domain in the attic. Each level was designed to flow freely across the building's full depth, creating an open, connected living experience. Throughout, a restrained material palette reinforces this spatial openness, enhanced by thoughtfully integrated lighting that shapes how the home feels at every hour.

www.haynersalgert-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Frank Böttner
www.boettner-foto.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|21)