The house is a harmony of contrasts

The essence of the architectural design of the family house in the German district of Paderborn lies in contrasts – between open and closed spaces, smooth and structured surfaces, light and dark materials. The unifying element that achieves a compact appearance of the façade is the generously glazed surfaces of windows and sliding systems Schüco with metallic surfaces of plastic profiles.

The property is situated on a sloping plot of land in a wedge shape and has a rather unconventional topographic position. The aim of the design by the office Adomako Architekten was to create a two-story house that would harmoniously resonate with the landscape while also providing an interesting yet understated accent within the surroundings – all while considering local building regulations. The result is a structure whose rooftop terrace connects to the top of the slope and encloses the residential mass of the building. The architect's philosophy of creating a lively interplay between covered and uncovered spaces is also reflected in the building's construction.

In terms of construction, it is a building made of lime-sand bricks with an external insulation system. The façade consists of dark facing bricks and white plaster, with these surfaces broken up by glass panes of windows and sliding systems Schüco. The floor plans of both levels can be connected or kept as separate units, which provides clients with maximum flexibility for the future. The living and sleeping zones are located on the side facing the hill – thus further away from the road – providing peace and privacy.

Light as the main design element

“Natural daylight should illuminate the path through the house and serve as a guide for its residents and guests,” believes architect Joseph Cornelius Adomako. In the spirit of this concept, an airy entrance hall was designed with a height of two stories, which is illuminated by large windows. From there, guests can reach a partially darker hallway with sloped walls via the staircase, with pathways and views leading further into the exceptionally well-lit living zone. The private areas of the house (i.e., bedrooms and bathrooms) are intentionally situated at the rear and recede into the background. The spacious ground-level garage is framed yet open with large glazed surfaces towards the garden and courtyard, allowing clients to continually keep an eye on their collection of vintage cars.

Airy, well-lit spaces with beautiful views were created using fixed windows and sliding elements Schüco, from which the architects were able to design solutions spanning an entire floor in widths up to 5.2 m, of course always with triple glazing for maximum thermal insulation protection. The plastic surfaces of the narrow profiles were coordinated with the dark facing bricks of the façade thanks to the exclusive technology of metallic colors Schüco AutomotiveFinish.

“For us, it was advantageous that the clients had seen our previous projects and identified with our style of transparency and the use of contrasting elements,” assessed Adomako on the collaboration with the investor.

Project Name: Family House - Paderborn
Architect: Adomako Architekten, Paderborn, www.adomako.com
Project Management: Joseph Cornelius Adomako
Manufacturer of window and door systems Schüco: Bode Kunststoffbau GmbH, Borchen
Realization: 2018

Systems Schüco used in the project
Schüco ThermoSlide sliding systems
Window, door, and sliding systems Schüco Living - highly thermally insulating triple glazing; burglary resistance class RC 2; external surfaces of profiles with a metallic appearance (Schüco AutomotiveFinish technology, color SAF-DB 703)

Photographer: Jochen Helle, source: Schüco

The envelope of the family house is characterized by prominent horizontal segmentation, which is further emphasized by the use of contrasting colors and materials.

The architectural goal was for the building to harmoniously blend with the sloping plot while also creating an accent within the surroundings.

The construction of the balcony and roof is cantilevered. Together with external blinds, they contribute to shading and protection against glare. The visible surfaces of the external profiles of window and door systems Schüco were color-coordinated with the dark facing masonry.

Balcony and sliding doors with Schüco PVC-U lift provide ample light and barrier-free access – as seen here to the rooftop terrace on the first floor.

Inside, the surfaces of the Schüco profiles remained white to match the light-colored walls and floors.

The living and dining area on the first floor: Sliding systems made of Schüco PVC-U enabled the creation of elements measuring up to 5.2 x 2.5 m (w x h).

Raised ground floor: All systems used insulating triple glazing. The exceptional thermal insulation values of the Schüco Living systems are guaranteed in the long term thanks to the permanently flexible Schüco EPDM seal.

Source: Adomako Architekten

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Southwest view, northwest view

Northeast view, southeast view

Distance calculation

Section detail