Mentha Walther Architekten

Description

The western part of the house was built by the owner family in 1933 and extended to the east in 1989. Due to the closure of railway cross-ings, the property had to be made accessible via a new road to the south. The two halves were consequently converted into two separate houses. The entrance to the north was removed, and the part of the house dating from the 1930s was reoriented to the south. The former basement has been activated by the new entrance, and a guest room with bathroom has been added. The entrance area now opens onto the staircase and connects the new garden level with the existing residential floors. The bathrooms and kitchen have been renovated and the floor plans adapted to meet today’s needs. The 1980s extension now faces east. The former double garage has been converted into a studio with bathroom, and the outside area has been re-naturalised. The installation of a kitchen and new internal circulation routes, along with the division of the gallery connecting the two rooms on the ground floor, will make it possible to rent out the house as a family apartment with a large garden. Other key elements include the replacement of building services, the addition of geothermal probes and a PV system, and thermal refurbishment. The new colour, material and lighting concept echoes the existing features, bringing together the old and the new to create a balanced whole. The new duplex is a prime example for how internal densification and upgrading can be achieved through targeted interventions in existing buildings.