The setting for this dream home couldn't have been better. Nestled in a prestigious residential area near a popular recreation zone in southern Ruhr, the property sits within a neighborhood in active transition—1970s homes gradually giving way to contemporary builds while preserving the area's established character and mature trees. This striking new residence by architects Engelshove Bau exemplifies this evolution perfectly. Designed for a family of six, it replaced the original single-family home that once occupied the roughly 1,275 m² plot.

For this blended family with four children, the brief was clear: a home that addresses today's needs while remaining flexible for life's inevitable changes. The solution was a future-ready design incorporating two separate residential units. With 402 m² of generously proportioned living space, the architects could fully realize the clients' vision—including dedicated private retreats for each family member. The property slopes dramatically, dropping 4.5 meters from street to rear garden, a challenge the team solved elegantly through a split-level design that steps naturally with the terrain. As architect Anja Engelshove explains: "We positioned the entrance at the mid-level—between the basement garage and the main living floor—to anchor the building seamlessly into the sloping landscape." Forward-thinking accessibility features, including an elevator shaft, ensure all levels remain barrier-free, today and tomorrow. From the entrance, a fully accessible path flows directly into the garden. The staggered cube volumes create an inherent lightness, a quality reinforced by the front garden's refined design: clean-lined terraces, low stone walls, and carefully considered plantings that transform the approach into a generous, welcoming entry sequence. Beyond the home, a capacious terrace and pool mirror the building's linear geometry, creating a seamless dialogue between architecture and landscape.

The cubic forms and offset volumes are clad in a contemporary palette—whites, grays, and charcoal accents—softened by a warm interplay of plaster, wood, and stone textures. Expansive glazing floods the interiors with daylight, dissolving the boundary between inside and out. The architects' integrated approach—treating building and garden as one coherent design—strengthens the entire composition. The open-plan kitchen, featuring a substantial central island and backup kitchen zone, deliberately faces the southeast and the street approach, anchored by a generous terrace. The dining and living spaces then open to the northwest, toward the main garden, with floor-to-ceiling glazing along the entire wall. The result is a luminous, expansive living room with unobstructed access to all outdoor spaces despite its north-facing orientation. Warm wooden flooring, used throughout even in the four beautifully appointed bathrooms, creates a cohesive, comfortable ambiance. Custom millwork—particularly the sculptural staircase—is enhanced by subtle indirect lighting. The private quarters deliver on the family's desire for personal sanctuaries.

www.engelshove.de

Photography:

Arnt Haug
www.arnt-haug.de

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|25)