For a long time, the motto among builders was "demolition and new construction before renovation and conversion", particularly in the case of detached and semi-detached houses from the post-war period. For some years now, however, a fundamental change has also been taking place in residential buildings - after all, houses from the 1920s to 1970s account for around 20 percent of Germany's total housing stock. If these buildings can be refurbished to meet today's housing requirements, vacancies and demolitions can be avoided and an attractive alternative to sealing off land in greenfield developments can be created.

One project that demonstrates this approach is the renovation of a residential building from the 1960s in Büttgen, planned and executed by Döring Dahmen Joeressen Architekten from Düsseldorf. The necessary energy-efficient conversion also offered the opportunity to give the house a contemporary formal appearance. During the roof renovation, the hipped roof typical of the period was converted into a pitched roof with a flat tile covering, while the roof overhang was reduced at the same time. Both contribute to the reduced, contemporary appearance of the house without it losing its formal relationship to the neighboring houses on the estate. At the same time, the lintel height of the existing window openings was increased and replaced with high-quality powder-coated aluminum windows, which form an elegant contrast in their dark shade with the light, newly insulated brick façade with particularly elongated runners. A few other durable and aesthetically timeless materials complement the exterior areas: for example, Corten steel and light-colored natural stone from regional quarries were used in the newly created garden-side atrium to enhance the sauna and fitness area in the basement with natural light.

The interiors, which are actually flooded with light for the first time thanks to the changed window lintel height, have a continuous parquet floor made of light oak in the living area; basalt tiles were laid in the bathrooms. The built-in furniture was custom-made by a carpenter in close consultation with the clients according to the architects' plans. In terms of energy, the house boasts a newly installed heat pump, which is mainly powered by the newly installed PV system on the roof and an electricity storage unit. The garden with its mature trees was also upgraded through careful landscaping measures without fundamentally changing its contours. Only one of the two existing garages was extended by a few meters so that sensitive plants behind glass, as well as the beach chair, have a place to rest in winter.

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Photos:
Schwalenberg Photography
www.schwalenberg-fotografie.com

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|25)