Getting hold of family-compatible apartments in Frankfurt is like a game of chance. Even if you find an apartment, it doesn't necessarily meet your expectations. It's not uncommon to hear: too little space with too many and too small rooms. But the clients of Point.architecture were lucky. They had an original 40 m² apartment in a Wilhelminian-style house from 1906 renovated and were able to add an extension with a staggered storey behind it, which extends into the depths of the narrow plot. With this sloping extension, which stands out from the existing building in terms of its cubature, construction method and choice of materials, they have not only connected two living environments, but also created a living space of 125 m² in total - suitable for a family with two children. The existing plot is used to its limits and also has a garden towards the boundary wall.

The original apartment is located on the mezzanine floor of the Wilhelminian-style building (perimeter block development) with whitewashed brickwork and red sandstone walls and plinths. The front building leads to a small courtyard with ground-level access to the new first floor unit. The new entrance door is located at the interface between the existing and new buildings, and the new building, made of single-skin, plastered masonry (uninsulated) and wooden metal windows, uses the room height of the old building's ground floor of 2.90 meters.

The architects restructured the first floor of the Wilhelminian style house and connected it to the new building via an old room window. In doing so, they retained typical Wilhelminian style elements such as period doors, the oak herringbone parquet flooring and cement tiles. The children's room, guest room/study, shower room, storage room and laundry room are located here. The new building, which does not have a basement, accommodates the spacious kitchen/dining/living area and opens up to the small courtyard garden via large sliding windows. The parents' bedroom with dressing room and en-suite bathroom is located on the top floor. An eye-catcher and storage space at the same time is the fitted silver fir staircase furniture, which not only connects both floors, but also accommodates the wardrobe, parts of the kitchen and storage areas. The silver fir continues on the upper floor as flooring in the sleeping area and bathroom. Only the wet room is lined with white mosaic tiles.

www.point-architektur.de

Photos:

Uwe Dettmar

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 01|23)