Single-family homes do not always have to be built in designated new development areas or as replacement new builds - space can also be created for a residential building by changing the use of partial plots of land. For example, Niederkassel architect Johannes Nöbel had the opportunity to acquire the asphalted yard of a fruit and vegetable wholesaler in an existing housing estate not far from the green Sieg estuary in the Mondorf district. A single-family house was built on the plot of land, which had been parceled out from the business premises, creating a harmonious link between the company's warehouse and the neighbouring residential development.

The house needed to be spacious for the family of three, with plenty of natural light, a close connection between inside and outside and an inviting, cozy living atmosphere. In order to be equipped for old age, it also had to be designed to be barrier-free. But the focus was not just on the living space: a solution also needed to be found that would strengthen the urban context. The guiding principle of the design is to make the distinctive length of the plot tangible in the building. Accordingly, the double garage was integrated into an unusually long structure measuring 26 m, which has only a few openings to the street, but opens up all the more to the garden. The predominantly single-storey building develops in an angular shape and comes right up to the rear façade of the neighboring warehouse. While the front wing accommodates the garage, utility room, entrance and a guest bathroom with shower, the rear wing is reserved solely for the communal rooms: An open kitchen with cooking island and dining area flows seamlessly into the living area here - with a mobile floor-to-ceiling TV wall allowing flexible room partitioning at any time. Behind this is the study, which is directly attached to the existing warehouse building and can easily be converted into a bedroom when older. There is a direct connection to the outdoor spaces on two sides for use at different times of day: The spacious living and dining area faces west and has a wide window front and a covered outdoor seating area. To the south, there is also an inner courtyard framed by window fronts, which allows plenty of additional daylight into the first floor, but also creates a cozy seating area in the living area. All private areas - bedrooms, children's rooms and a large bathroom - are finally located in a color-contrasting, clearly contoured pitched roof storey, which was placed on top of the low-rise building. The slightly recessed extension deliberately echoes the alignment lines and roof shapes of the neighboring terraced houses, thus clearly reinforcing the urban context of the house.

www.noebel-architektur.de

Photos:

Bernadett Yehdou
www.bernadett-yehdou.de
Johannes Nöbel

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|22)