Nestled in a residential development south of Cologne, this property offers what urban dwellers crave: a stunning backdrop of rolling Voreifel hills rising from the surrounding plains. The client envisioned generous, flowing floor plans that would support contemporary living—an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living space, combined with a private sleeping zone featuring a spacious dressing room and spa-like bathroom. Equally important was creating a residence that maintains privacy from the street while providing security against intrusion.

Architect Wolfgang Rettberg of Cologne designed a cubic volume that presents a largely closed facade to the street and neighboring structures, while generously opening toward the garden. Working with local building codes and design guidelines, Rettberg secured approval for a two-story design in place of the mandated staggered-story solution. The upper floor extends fully to the street-facing edge, creating abundant roof terrace space on the garden side—an arrangement that generates a distinctive, dynamic street presence while respecting the surrounding context. The interplay of solid and void, recesses and projections, animates the building's form, particularly through the choreography of light and shadow. The facade employs thin-format water-struck brick in warm earth tones that echo the surrounding fields, while anthracite wood-aluminum frames provide a striking punctuation to the windows.

Beyond the covered entry, a generous foyer frames views through the open-plan living and kitchen area, drawing the eye directly into the garden. The living zone benefits from a generous 2.70-meter ceiling height, making the space feel expansive and light. A central fireplace serves as both focal point and gathering hub, visible from every corner. An additional external flue allows the fireplace experience to extend onto the covered terrace. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, a connection reinforced by a restrained landscape design that flows to a swimming pond with integrated seating at the property's edge. A wooden-slat stairwell, delicately lit yet shielded from view, leads to the entirely private second floor: a bedroom en suite with a spacious bath that flows into an expansive dressing room. From the generous roof terrace, the rolling hills beyond create a breathtaking vista.

www.architekt-rettberg.de

Photography Credits:

Achim Bednorz
www.achimbednorz.com

(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 01|22)