Smart minimalism

Both in terms of design and technical equipment, everything should be something more than just state of the art: the builders wanted a spacious, puristic ambience for themselves and their three children – with perfectly formed, minimalist details, but not at the expense of comfort should go. It was particularly important to the couple that the architecture of the building, the interior and the lighting concept all meshed harmoniously. Finally, the villa was to achieve technical perfection and thus the greatest possible comfort via comprehensive smart home control: all technical functions should be controllable at any time via the iPhone, even remotely.

The Cologne-based firm Skandella Architektur und Innenarchitektur, commissioned by the client after intensive research, developed a design that takes advantage of the hillside location of the property: the cubic structure is raised above street level and is therefore at the same level as the rear garden and terrace area. Due to the projections and indentations in various functional areas, it appears particularly three-dimensional on all sides. The upper floor, which is characterized by a felt plaster facade, seems to float above the extraordinarily transparent ground floor. In contrast to the garden, both floors are optically interlocked by a solid-looking fireplace block made of hand-made Kolumba clinker.

The visitor is guided via terraces with few plants to the entrance area, which opens up the building like a wide gap thanks to its glass transparency, which is designed to be as high as the building. The entrance is characterized by an imposing air space and a minimalist staircase with equally transparent parapets. The open living area opens up generously on the ground floor: towards the garden, floor-to-ceiling, electrically controllable glazing in combination with large-format fine stoneware tiles ensure that the interior and exterior flow continuously into one another. The mirror pool, which is formed around the corner, is also connected to the terrace without a break. On the upper floor, the parents’ suite, configured as a retreat, with dressing room and wellness bath, as well as the children’s wing, a guest area and a study are grouped around the spacious patio. The atrium, which is open on the façade, offers space for a large whirlpool, which can be flexibly protected from prying eyes using external blinds, so that after a sauna and steam bath session you can really relax in the open air without being disturbed. Almost all of the furniture was designed by the architects as built-in furniture, with all surfaces being varnished. A special eye-catcher is the cooking block in the kitchen, in which not only hobs, extractor hood and sink have been integrated. An aquascape aquarium with shimmering ornamental fish offers the right “eye candy” – whereby the entire control and supply technology was arranged in the basement, as was the temperature-controlled wine cellar. Great attention was paid to the most invisible possible integration of the building services: For example, the entire air conditioning system, including the scenting system, disappears completely into the built-in furniture and the outdoor awning can also be completely retracted into the wall. In order to ensure the greatest possible ease of use for lighting, music and video, but also burglary protection, heating, cooling and venetian blind shading, a smart home and multi-room entertainment concept was used that can be flexibly controlled via an app.

Link to original source: CUBE Magazin