Luxury is often more evident in the small details than in grand gestures. So it doesn’t always have to be a plot of several thousand square metres on which the dream of owning one’s own home can come to fruition. For one family, 560 m² – situated in the second row, no less – was enough to have a house built by architect Klaus Mäs entirely to their specifications. The two structures are stacked one on top of the other in an almost humorous way – the archetypal upper floor is rotated by ninety degrees on top of the rectangular ground floor. Grey render above, rust-red Corten steel below, creating a playful lightness.

Interconnection, intertwining and layering are characteristics that run through the entire house and its outdoor spaces. On the ground floor, the kitchen, living room and dining room flow seamlessly into one another and open out through the large sliding glass doors onto the terrace, which extends into the garden. This central living area is dedicated to relaxing, socialising and enjoying life together. It is here that the family welcomes guests, allowing light and the surroundings to become part of the interior.

This welcoming openness extends up to the upper floor, which is connected to the ground floor via an open-plan space. A double staircase leads upwards, its lower section still reflecting the open character of the ground floor. The delicate structure, made of black-stained steel, stands out clearly against the white walls and the pale grey floor. The upper section of the staircase, clad in strip parquet, disappears behind a white balustrade, thus signalling the start of the more private area. On the upper floor, a gallery leads to the bedrooms and bathrooms, which have floor-to-ceiling but largely narrow window openings.

Exposed concrete, steel and wood provide the backdrop for a cheerful life in and around the house. The furniture blends seamlessly into the rooms, fabrics soften the surfaces, and the lighting gives the rooms a completely different feel at different times of day. This is where the client’s personal touch comes to the fore; he is an interior designer with the Cologne-based firm Raumordnung. The family’s taste is also evident in the art within the house; they have long been collecting a wide variety of works. They take their place as if it were the most natural thing in the world, becoming part of the fabric of the architecture and interior design. It even seems, to some extent, as though the rooms were designed specifically to showcase these works of art. They are certainly an enrichment.

www.klausmaes.de

Living area: 175 m²
Plot size: 560 m²
Construction period: 2019–2020
Construction method: Solid construction using a monolithic method
Energy concept: Air-to-water heat pump

Photography Credits:

Philip Kistner
www.philipkistner.com

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|22)