Renovation of a family house in the German city of Bergisch Gladbach

An unusual approach led architect and client in one person, Erika Werres, to a holistic concept of renovating a family villa in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. She began with a careful selection of profiles for the variously designed windows from the Schüco system and then developed color and material proposals for almost all visible surfaces in the building and its immediate surroundings based on them. The result is an exceptionally cohesive and elegant aesthetic. More at www.schueco.cz

Architect Erika Werres fell in love at first sight not only with the location and plot in North Rhine-Westphalia but also with the building itself that stood on it. The layout, building material, room height, and space division seemed ideal for her five-member family’s needs, which is why she opted for renovation instead of new construction. Although the term "renovation" doesn't fully capture the extent of the work that ultimately needed to be done. It was rather a complete reconstruction: the architect added and enlarged window areas and equipped the entire outer shell with a composite thermal insulation system; completely replaced the electrical, heating, and ventilation systems; remodeled the roof and adjusted the division of spaces on all three floors of the house to meet the inhabitants' requirements. However, the increased costs associated with modifying the existing building paid off.

On three floors covering a total area of 240 m², a modern, functional, and sunlit living space was created that can easily compete with new constructions. All of this is further enhanced by the distinctive charm of the building – during the renovation, the traditional style typical of this area was preserved, which is why the building is under partial heritage protection.

Schüco Aluminum Profile Systems More light, better views, excellent thermal insulation

The facade and interior solutions benefit from working with light, views, and also from the variety of materials used. While respecting the original architectural style of the building, additional and significantly enlarged glazed openings were added so that all living and utility spaces had plenty of natural light and allowed for various views into the garden and surrounding landscape. All windows and sliding doors stand out with the highest quality construction – Schüco aluminum profile systems are characterized by excellent thermal insulation properties and are also fitted with triple insulating glass.
As an architect, Erika Werres previously gained experience with a wide range of designs and technical possibilities offered by Schüco's window, door, and facade systems in her work on large commercial projects. Her project thus included system solutions that precisely met her requirements, such as narrow, vertically oriented double-wing windows, fixed glazed areas in combination with double-wing windows, as well as fixed glazed walls in combination with large-format sliding-lift systems from Schüco. Additionally, it was possible to integrate fixed glazed areas on both sides of the entrance doors within the chosen system range, specifically the Schüco ADS 75 SI model.

The color of the profiles as a defining and recurring motif

During the project's planning phase, Erika Werres paid special attention to colors, textures, and materials. The chosen powder coating for the Schüco window profiles became the inspiration for the basic color scheme – a metallic finish with a fine texture in the gray-brown shade "Tiger greybrown". This was used on the frame profiles of all constructions as well as on some custom-made cover profiles.

In both the interior and exterior, the architect utilized a color and material spectrum that enhances the simple elegance of the building materials – sometimes through subtle nuances, at other times through contrasts. Variations on the black-and-white spectrum are already impressive from the outside, where the metallic gray-brown window profiles and cladding stand out against the light silicate plaster, while the matte black glazed roof tiles contrast with the light concrete slabs surrounded by Rhine gravel. The window reveals created after installing the composite thermal insulation system on the facade are fitted with recessed exterior shading and glare protection. The color of the profiles also matches the color of the blinds.

The interior is dominated by a combination of white walls, ceilings, and utility spaces with cement grey stone tiles on the floors, grayish window sills made of Jurassic limestone, and (in wet areas) glass mosaic tiles in warm gray tones with a pearlescent effect. This color scheme is enlivened by natural wood in the form of cashmere gray oak flooring on the stairs and upper floors. With such a level of care and attention devoted to the selection of materials and colors, it is no surprise that this thoughtful play of colors continues in the upholstery of the furniture and other decorative elements.

System options and comfortable solutions

The window systems create a contrast between vertically segmented double-wing windows, repeated on all floors, and a clean horizontal line of glazed surfaces that open to the garden for the full height of the ground floor. Two easily operable sliding doors with lifting mechanisms (Schüco ASS 70), each measuring 4 meters in width and 2.34 meters in height, lead from the living area to the terraces. Between them is a 6-meter wide fixed glazed wall that removes the visual boundary between the living area and the garden. All opening windows are fitted with completely concealed Schüco AvanTec SimplySmart hardware, and their elegant yet functional locking handles feature a locking button. Another special element is located on the entry doors in the form of a Schüco Fingerprint biometric access control system with a fingerprint reader – its convenient operation and security will be appreciated by all household members.

All window and door systems were manufactured and installed by Metallbau Udo Eichwald & Co. GmbH, Sankt Augustin. The partner company then ensured the powder coating of the profiles and cover strips in the signature shade "Tiger greybrown".

Project Information

Completion: 2016

Schüco products used in the building

Special elements: Triple insulating glass with a thermal insulation coating and safety glass; fine metallic powder coating of all frame constructions in the shade "Tiger greybrown" (interior/exterior).
For more information, visit www.schueco.cz