This is the second time that the Ricardo Ferreira Architecture and Design Studio from Meerbusch has planned and realized a house for a couple. Ten years ago, the aim was to build a semi-detached house on an existing basement foundation, but this time the clients wanted to convert an acquired house into a spacious family home - with enough space for communal family life, room for a home office and a pool in the garden.

It quickly became clear that the gable-roofed house built in 1938 on a relatively narrow plot, which had already been converted in the 1970s, could not be extended either to the side or to the rear towards the garden. However, in order to create zoned communal, children's and parents' areas on each floor and a basement for building services, utility and storage rooms, the low attic could be extended by a kneeling storey. Accordingly, the existing attic was removed and a mezzanine floor was added. The floor plans were also completely rearranged on each floor: Upon entering the house, for example, you are greeted by a spacious entrance hall with a well-lit air space that extends across all three floors. A separate checkroom with guest WC has been arranged on the street side.

The entrance and a minimalist, floor-to-ceiling window provide the first view of the garden. The spacious kitchen and central dining area are grouped on the garden side and can be seamlessly extended onto the terrace via large glass sliding elements. A particular eye-catcher is the preserved and reworked fireplace, whose striking external chimney gives the garden view of the house a special character. The adjoining living area with separate piano room faces the street via a large sitting window. The children's floor above comprises three children's bedrooms and a guest room with a centrally located shower room. Finally, on the top floor, the parents' bedroom with a dressing room faces the garden. There is a direct connection to the spacious master bathroom. A study opens up to the street as a spacious home office. Both from the outside and the inside, the home has undergone a consistent design metamorphosis: The different, partly retained, partly modified and newly added window formats enliven the energy-efficient plaster façade.

The contours of the newly added top floor also impress with their minimalist design. Great care was also taken in the interior design to ensure that only a few high-quality materials were used: The white plastered walls complement the Italian Ceppo di Gré porcelain stoneware, which forms the floor covering on the first floor as well as the wall cladding in the bathrooms in large formats. In contrast, warm oak parquet flooring was used on the upper floors. There is also a range of custom-made built-in furniture. Not least for pictures and other art objects, this creates a simple setting that focuses on the essentials.

www.rfai.de

Photos:
Julia Vogel
www.julia-vogel.com

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 03|24)