Modest in footprint yet steeply sloped, the plot occupies a high dyke overlooking the Rhine. Bordered to the northeast by a local road, the river to the southwest lies tantalizingly within reach. Düsseldorf-based DDJ Architekten Döring Dahmen Joeressen conceived a three-story residence where every room opens generously onto the water through expansive terraces – achieved through a surprisingly sculptural architectural expression.

Originally, the homeowners had envisioned a single-story flat-roofed house with a stacked penthouse level for their family of four. Their preliminary building application was approved in 2018. However, amendments to the building code the following year and a definitive court ruling eliminated that option – the building code from the 1960s now mandated a pitched roof. This constraint proved liberating, generating the distinctive form we see today: a geometry that dialogues with neighboring rooflines while creating an unusual sculptural mass through carefully calibrated facades and terraces. Material choices reinforce this narrative. Large-format, silver-shimmer aluminum panels cascade from the facade into the roof planes – crisply detailed with concealed drainage systems. The double garage, optically aligned with the entry zone, steps back through its sepias-brown slatted facade and integrated LED striping. The street-facing elevation reads as a single story, nearly windowless behind a modest forecourt, protecting privacy. But the river side tells a different story: a dramatically cantilevered pitched roof, a recessed ground level, and a plinth-like basement below create a dynamic composition. Floor-to-ceiling glass with refined sliding systems deliver unobstructed Rhine vistas across all three levels, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior. The spatial program is elegantly organized: upstairs, bedrooms and baths each claim private terraces. The ground floor centers on a gas fireplace, with the living, kitchen, and dining areas flowing generously around it – a dedicated window seat frames a particularly compelling river view. The living zone extends nearly four-and-a-half meters onto the terrace deck; a Corten steel stair descends to the garden. The basement functions as guest quarters with garden access, while also housing a work studio, fitness area, and sauna – the latter positioned to capture dramatic river views. Every detail, from custom millwork to the oversized master bath – naturally with Rhine views – was crafted to the architects' specifications.

www.ddj.de

Living space: 400 m² (including ancillary areas, excluding garages)
Plot size: 699 m²
Construction period: 12 months (completed during the COVID-19 pandemic)
Construction method: Solid masonry
Energy concept: Air-water heat pump, supplementary gas boiler, recirculation cooling as needed (upper floors)

Photos:
Manos Meisen
www.manosmeisen.de

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 02|24)