A home that evolves with its inhabitants yet maintains clear structure—one that feels secure and radiates warmth. This was the vision on Sillmann Architects' wish list when they set out to design a house for themselves and their family, rather than for clients. Based in Mönchengladbach, the firm created a single-storey gabled roof structure with raised knee walls and generous eaves that reads as both classically proportioned and distinctly modern. Its refined exterior belies what happens within: the interior flows seamlessly into the exterior, offering layered experiences of light and tactile materials throughout.

Located in the rural character district of Rheindahlen, the residential area is marked by dense building patterns. These constraints—along with zoning regulations under BGB §34—required strategic planning. To secure genuine privacy within the tight urban fabric, the house uses an integrated double garage as a buffer, clearly defining the garden and shielding it from street access. The solution: a robust, high-quality façade of Gillrath clinker bricks, whose lively, varied appearance emerges from the unique firing process of each individual stone. This tactile façade gives the new building a confident presence alongside its neighbours, despite their comparable scale.

The interior is anchored by a striking exposed concrete ceiling that spans the ground floor—unified, luminous, and utterly refined. Achieving this pristine in-situ concrete finish without white pigments or additives was a logistics puzzle: every concrete delivery had to be calibrated to prevent colour variation. Large-format formwork panels enabled a seamless aesthetic, creating clean lines and an undisturbed surface. The lighting design demanded precision too—every electrical outlet was planned to the millimetre so that wiring and fixtures vanish into the concrete itself. The generous open-plan spaces adapt fluidly to different needs: they flow between interior and exterior, connect different levels, and offer both gathering spaces and quiet retreats. Material selection is deliberately spare and honest—raw and visible in its authenticity. Exposed concrete overhead, raw steel for the sculptural staircase, and warmth of timber define the spatial experience. Every detail, from vanity to kitchen island, was developed in collaboration with Zimmermanns carpentry, ensuring that all interior elements are not merely functional but integral to the house's architectural narrative.

www.architekten-mg.de

Photos:
Giulio Coscia
www.fotografie-coscia.de
Carlos Albuquerque
www.pixelundkorn.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 03|25)