It's hard to imagine that such a dark and low attic could be transformed into a bright and spatially exciting maisonette! And as if the challenge wasn't big enough, the remaining floors had to be renovated under strict monument protection regulations. This was the brief for the family home of two brothers, which had been rebuilt by their grandfather after the Second World War and with which they approached Frey Architekten in 2016. An exciting development process began.

From the outset, it was clear that the sensitive handling of the house's eventful past would play a prominent role in the renovation of the apartments from the first floor to the third floor. Historical elements were to be preserved and refurbished and carefully supplemented with contemporary elements that emphasize the history in their characteristic effect. The brothers painstakingly added to the historic tiling and terrazzo flooring, uncovered wall coverings in the conservatories, cleaned them and restored them. The traces of past renovations were not covered up, but highlighted. For example, refurbished window elements from the turn of the century can be found next to box-type windows from the 1920s and double glazing from the 1950s - all fitted with contemporary thermal insulation glazing. The careful adjustments to the floor plan in favor of the bathrooms can still be seen in the change of materials on the floor. Open-plan kitchens with adjoining dining areas and direct access to the conservatories form the focal point of the apartments. The attic, which was only built as a makeshift roof with a low pitch after being hit by an incendiary bomb in the Second World War, is a different story. In close consultation with the heritage office, it was possible to erect the structure - based on the Stuttgart roof of the adjoining neighboring house - as a modern timber construction with cross-laminated timber elements. This formed the basis for the open, spacious room configuration with an air space connecting the two storeys and an almost column-free floor plan. Only an inserted cube with functions on all sides zones the flowing space. The large panoramic window opens up the space and provides fascinating views.  

www.freyarchitekten.de

Photos:

Sebastian Schels
www.schels.net

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|24)