A detached house like this with a mature garden was the dream of a family of four. They discovered this little gem in Bochum-Langendreer on a real estate marketing forum. "Just paint and move in" was advertised there. It turned out to be a bit more extensive, as Ole Wetterich reveals, whose architectural firm Typ A. Architekten team modernized the house with a view to budget, energy measures and the wishes of the clients.

"We are grateful when we are involved at the first or second viewing appointment. Building owners are quick and rightly very emotional about such viewings, and we already look at any opportunities for further developments," points out Ole Wetterich. As the heating and plumbing systems as well as the electrics were still from the original year, the technical systems were extensively renovated. The targeted energy-saving standard of an Efficiency House 50 EE was achieved through insulation, an air heat pump and a controlled ventilation system. A PV system was also installed. The family's desire for a communicative, open-plan house for four was achieved by making changes to the floor plan. The load-bearing, solid, continuous central wall now plays with newly placed openings. A large opening to the kitchen and clearly positioned high passages into the spacious entrance area extend the living space and allow for exciting views. A large sitting window complements the dining area and provides a fantastic view of the garden, which can be accessed through a large sliding door from the kitchen connected to the dining room. In order to preserve the oak parquet flooring on the first floor, which shines in new splendor after refurbishment, underfloor heating was not installed. A newly installed spatula floor covering now lies opposite the herringbone parquet flooring, so that the old and new floor plans are visible. In the open, minimalist entrance area, the original solid wood staircase leads to the upper floors, where two children's bedrooms, a children's bathroom and a study are located. The laundry shaft, which the owners wanted to extend from the upper floor to the basement, was also realized. "In terms of the design, it did interfere with our straight line, but ultimately the focus is on the benefits for the family," says Ole Wetterich, describing the compromises that were negotiated. A new staircase, made partly by a carpenter and partly by a metalworker, connects the master bedroom and master bathroom with the living areas via a gallery, creating open communication across all floors.

www.typ-a.com

Photos:
Jannis Wiebusch
www.janniswiebusch.de

(Published in CUBE Ruhr Area 04|24)