In the vibrant heart of Ehrenfeld, a townhouse emerges that sits respectfully within the urban fabric while asserting its own architectural identity. Breedveld Engelhardt Architekten, a Cologne-based firm, transformed the salvageable remains of an existing structure into a terraced townhouse that captivates through its remarkably open spatial design.

The project began with an early 20th-century extension attached to a mixed-use building on Venloer Straße. While renovation was initially considered, the structure's poor condition—sagging timber ceilings, deteriorating masonry, and structural inadequacies—made that economically unfeasible. Instead, the extension was largely rebuilt: a three-story residence was created while the existing ground-floor retail space was expanded. The new structure maintains the original three-tiered silhouette required by local building authorities. Inside, the townhouse embodies the concept of an urban sanctuary: a generous spatial sequence unfolds across three levels, connected by a striking cantilevered elliptical staircase in cast concrete. Delicate steel railings, crafted with precision, provide visual contrast against the raw orthogonal structure of the exposed concrete. The seamless flow between the ground-floor living space and the courtyard continues throughout the interior: bedrooms and children's rooms are similarly separated from the main living areas by floor-to-ceiling glass, creating multiple sightlines and fostering interaction across rooms and levels for the five-person family. Curtains enable privacy when needed, transforming these spaces into personal retreats. Each story opens onto its own small terrace, with oversized sliding doors facilitating natural transitions to these outdoor areas. The northeast orientation ensures these terraces remain comfortable year-round, without the risk of excessive heat gain.

The material palette and construction language are deliberately raw, unadorned, and functionally essential. The exposed reinforced concrete skeleton and a ground-floor firewall rebuilt from reclaimed bricks of the original structure honor the district's industrial heritage—Ehrenfeld was once the beating heart of Cologne's manufacturing sector. This honesty of materials reinforces the design philosophy of reduction and clarity. The skeleton structure—braced by a concrete core housing the entry and bathroom, infilled with masonry—enables the open, column-free spatial concept while meeting stringent fire-safety requirements (building class 4). The design extends this reductive ethos to technical systems: underfloor heating is sourced from the front building, while conventional air conditioning and mechanical ventilation have been entirely eliminated. Concrete ceilings function as thermal mass, working in concert with night ventilation to maintain comfortable temperatures across all seasons. A BUS-based smart home system rounds out the amenities while remaining flexible for future upgrades.

www.bea.archi

Photography:
Marc Breedveld

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|25)