When the owners relocated to Cologne, they envisioned transforming their newly acquired terraced house into the airy, generous space they had cherished in their period-style Berlin apartment. Located next to the Werkbund settlement at Pauliplatz in Braunfels, the 1920s home was originally conceived as a compact, compartmentalized design. The Cologne-based firm Keßler Plescher Architekten carefully reconfigured the three-storey layout, introducing flowing open-plan spaces that defied conventional expectations of the typology.

The redesign honors the family's urban heritage while challenging terraced house conventions. On the ground floor, removing the wall between kitchen and living areas created an expansive, integrated zone. Rather than traditional swinging doors, the architects introduced sliding mechanisms and built-in elements: a striking multifunctional MDF unit now lines the hallway-living room boundary, functioning simultaneously as coat storage, cabinetry, bench, and shelving on either side. Two integrated doors enable passage through the unit. Garden-facing glazed folding doors—inspired by period aesthetics—open the entire living space to the terrace, while textile awnings on the street facade soften the exterior and provide flexible light control. Original finishes were meticulously restored: Solnhofen tiles in the entry, cement tiles in the kitchen, and oak parquet in living areas. Terrazzo anchors the kitchen counter, while soft-textured matte laminates grace the blue cabinetry. The existing wooden staircase, refined in mint green, now serves as a sculptural focal point. The first floor accommodates the master suite—bedroom, dressing room, and bath overlooking the garden—with a street-facing study. The L-shaped dressing area seamlessly connects to the bathroom, its oiled oak veneer surfaces and mineral screed flooring creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. The upper storey houses children's bedrooms, a guest room, and bath. By removing intermediate ceilings to the roofline, the architects achieved an unexpectedly generous spatial experience despite the modest footprint.

www.kesslerplescher.de

Photography Credits:

Marie Kreibich
www.mariekreibich.com

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|23)