At first glance, this Derendorf residence—nestled between historic barracks and contemporary developments—appears rather modest. But looks deceive. Step inside, and the story changes entirely: the home reveals itself through sophisticated architectural choices, meticulous detailing, and thoughtful design decisions at every turn.

To bring their vision to life, the family's first step was reimagining the cramped original layout. The guiding principle: fewer walls, more light. "While the existing room arrangement worked fine functionally, we wanted something different—more natural light, a sense of openness, better storage, and a kitchen that truly serves as the heart of family life," explains the homeowner. To realize this dream kitchen, they even eliminated the garage. Now, rather than sheltering a car, the family gathers daily in a striking modern kitchen anchored by a statement black marble-look island. An equally bold move was removing the sole load-bearing concrete wall spanning both the ground and first floors, replacing it with an elegant steel-and-glass structure. The owners made this choice because the original staircase blocked light after just 3.28 meters, starving the dining room—which soars to 5.46 meters—of daylight. The solution: an almost invisible 8-millimeter steel staircase that floats through the space, flooding the kitchen with natural light. Architect Jean-Luc Lourier singles out this detail for particular praise: "What's remarkable about this seemingly simple semi-detached house is how completely the gallery's drama across two levels and that striking steel-and-glass composition stay hidden from the street. Then you walk in, and suddenly you understand—the space is vast, luminous, transformed."

Steel and polished concrete combine to give the ground floor an unmistakably industrial edge. Clean lines reign throughout. A warming counterpoint arrives via an oak-slat coat cabinet that cleverly conceals a floor-to-ceiling guest bathroom door—a subtle touch that immediately catches the eye and brings human warmth to the austere floor. The Flos Arrangement pendant hanging nearby echoes this duality; despite its architectural precision, it conjures something playful, almost like a circus trapeze. Upstairs, the original parquet has been preserved on the first and second levels, with major changes deferred until the children are older. The third floor belongs entirely to the parents: fully tiled and equally open-plan, where the bedroom and bathroom flow seamlessly into each other without intervening doors. A window bridging the two spaces plays with compelling contrasts—a coolly minimalist black-and-white bathroom set against a warm, color-rich bedroom sanctuary.

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(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|21)