PRESS RELEASE
November 2013
Family home in Warburg, Germany
Unusual, yet homely
A family home was constructed on a hillside with a spectacular
outlook in Warburg, where the client allowed himself to be
guided by a design concept as unusual as it was functional. The
main areas of use boast an impressive level of transparency and
break up the inside and outside space. This is made possible by
the large areas of glazing in conjunction with lift-and-slide walls
from the Schüco system world.
There could hardly be a more beautiful view. The site forms a semicircle, in the centre of which the old building from 1955 was previously
positioned. It was a single-storey home with a saddle roof aligned
parallel with the hillside, constructed in the conventional style typical of
the area, with an extended loft and large dormer window. The existing
building, the home of the client's parents, had an extension with postmodern stylistic elements added in 1987 due to the size of the family.
Locally, people called it the "house in the cradle", which vividly
describes the way it nestled into the hillside. The main viewing
direction is south east, downhill of Warburg and its outskirts, and
looking out over the Desenberg castle ruins on an elevation of
volcanic origin in the Warburger Börde lowland region on the horizon.
Competition inviting ideas for the newbuild
The client quickly dismissed the idea of renovating the old building.
The expense would have been the same as building a new property,
but without opening up anywhere near the same possibilities in terms
of design and division of space. After the decision had been made in
favour of a newbuild, an invitation to take part in a competition was
sent out to four local architectural firms. This "architectural
brainstorming" was marked by the greatest possible freedom of
design. Transparency and openness, modernity and energy efficiency
were set as the goals, but without any further specifications as to taste
or style. The design by Ladleif Architekten from Kassel emerged as
the favourite from the competition. The client proved himself to be
open to an unusual overall design, the most striking feature of which is
an elongated building structure arranged perpendicular to the hillside.
The unusual perpendicular alignment and the section in the front third
which floats over the hillside are intelligent devices used by the
architect. Positioned on two levels one above the other, the main living
zones equally face towards the side with the view. On the ground floor
is the kitchen with large areas of glass which sweep around the
corner. On the top floor is the living space with a terrace in front.
Dialogue between modern materials and those typical of the area
The variation in the façade design of the newbuild helps to
differentiate the building structure and the living zones. The top floor of
the newbuild is designed as a suspended, rear-ventilated façade with
red wine-coloured Eternit panels. Streamlined ribbon windows and
light openings are integrated into the horizontal, offset structure of the
fibre cement panels. They are slightly set back into the façade to
provide space for the external, concealed solar shading. On the
ground floor with the entrance/reception area and spacious kitchen
towards the hillside, the façade design alternates between transparent
and closed surfaces. It opens out onto the hillside with a storey-height,
all-glass corner, allowing the clearly structured outside space up to the
entrance to the property to be taken in the whole year round when
cooking and eating. At the front, the newbuild rests on a base made of
sandstone from the river Weser, which surrounds the building on the
outer edge of the terraces in a U shape, engaging in dialogue with the
historic boundary walls on the hill-facing side of the property. The
base is also home to an underground garage for several vehicles.
Seamlessly from inside to outside
The glazing makes a remarkable contribution to the quality of life,
especially the light openings designed as lift-and-slide walls in the
kitchen on the ground floor and the living space on the top floor.
Visually and in terms of function, they almost remove the barrier
between the inside and outside area, especially as the large units can
also be opened when the weather is nice, creating seamless
transitions between the home and the adjoining terraces. This
"seamlessness" of the transitions is emphasised by the identical
materials for the floors - basalt slabs on the ground floor and solid oak
panels on the top floor.
Cutting-edge system technology
Whilst steel and copper were also discussed as alternative panel
materials for the façade design during planning, the use of high quality
aluminium profile systems was never in question for the system
glazing. The desire for slimline profile face widths, automation, a
uniform system appearance for doors, windows, fixed glazing and
skylights, as well as the need for a high structural load-bearing
capacity in view of the imposing unit dimensions, were key reasons for
choosing the Schüco range of systems. It would hardly have been
possible to cope with highly thermally insulated triple glazing with
integrated LSG outer panes in security class P4A with glass weights
of approx. 500 kg per unit in any other way. The field sizes and unit
weights, some of which are close to the structural limits, also required
particular expertise when it came to the installation technology, as well
as a special device for on-site glazing. In conjunction with the highly
thermally insulated profiles in the HI series, and the profiles with
maximum thermal insulation in the SI series from Schüco (see 'Project
details'), outstanding U values are achieved by the glazed units (Ug
0.7 W/m²K; Uw < 1.0 W/m²K).
Installation flush with the ground and special paint finish
The most technically sophisticated system constructions are the liftand-slide doors in the façades of the kitchen and the living space special constructions based on the Schüco ASS 70.HI system
combined with fixed fields from the Schüco FW 50+ HI façade system.
Budo Metallbau GmbH in Warburg, a fabricator familiar with the
requirements of sophisticated commercial projects, constructed the
systems at the request of the client and, in accordance with the
requirements of the architects, installed them so as to be recessed the bottom edge of the fixed field glazing is at the level of the flooring.
The moving units have been positioned behind the mullion/transom
construction on a single track, and they are guided on tracks recessed
into the floor to allow easy access. According to the wishes of the
client, this was not just for aesthetic reasons, but far more to create
ease of access throughout. Together with a glazed lift in the rear
section of the building, the entire project has been designed in such a
way that the building can be used comfortably regardless of the age of
its inhabitants.
What makes all the aluminium profile systems from Schüco installed in
the façade and roof so special is the surface finish coating of the
profiles. Here the client selected a high quality, textured TIGER matt
coating in grey, which blends in with the tint and natural brilliance of
the glazing, simultaneously forming an organised structure as well as
an elegant colour contrast to the red wine and white-coloured façade
surfaces.
Energy efficient and self-sufficient
In addition to design and functionality, energy efficiency and
sustainability were design issues of equal importance. The client
wanted to make use of regenerative energies, but did not accept being
dependent on just one source of energy. The solution is therefore a
combination of a pellet boiler and a gas condensing boiler, which can
be switched on to suit requirements and which is maintained as a
peak load boiler. Solar thermal modules positioned on the flat roof
guarantee the provision of hot water throughout the year. The building
has underfloor heating on all levels and a ventilation system integrated
in the façade. This is barely visible on the hill-facing side and is
designed as a living space ventilation system with heat recovery which
is controlled decentrally. With this "self-sufficient" combination of
measures, the newbuild boasts excellent consumption values - the
useful energy requirement is 56 kWh/m²a, the total energy
requirement 66 kWh/m²a and the primary energy requirement 18
kWh/m²a.
Project details
Private family home in Warburg, Germany
Architect: Meinrad Ladleif, Ladleif Architekten BDA, Kassel
Fabricator/Metal fabricator: Budo Metallbau GmbH, Warburg-Dössel
Design and construction period: 2009-2011
Newbuild living space: 280 m² on two levels
Brief overview: Concrete construction with 16 cm (ground floor) and
20 cm (top floor) external insulation and suspended, rear-ventilated
façade made of red wine-coloured Eternit façade panels; triple glazing
in windows, doors, fixed glazing, sliding door units and roof glazing;
solar shading by means of external blinds
Systems: Schüco FW 50+.SI (fixed glazing and roof), Schüco AWS
75.SI (windows), Schüco ADS 75.SI (doors), Schüco ASS 70.HI (liftand-slide doors)
Energy concept: Pellet boiler and gas condensing boiler as a peak
load boiler, which can be switched on to suit requirements; solar
thermal for hot water; underfloor heating on all levels; façadeintegrated ventilation system as a living space ventilation system with
heat recovery which is controlled decentrally. Useful energy
requirement of 56 kWh/m²a, total energy requirement of 66 kWh/m²a
and primary energy requirement of 18 kWh/m²a.
[Architect interview:]
Thinking outside the box
Interview with the architect Meinrad Ladleif, from Ladleif
Architekten in Kassel, about some of the special design features
of the home in Warburg.
Which general design conditions led to this unique solution?
Ladleif: To enable this truly individual design to come to life,
extraordinary design freedom was required in the first instance, as
well as a highly developed sense of style on the part of the client. The
specifications were more abstract/functional and stylistically free.
Neither the floor plan nor the materials had been specified. The only
information we had was the number of users, the desire for modern
and transparent living, a heating concept based on regenerative
energies without being dependent on one source, as well as the
intelligent link to the renovated old building. The client was basically
open to the overall design.
With a newbuild in mind, the client invited four architects from
the area around Warburg to present their ideas. Why did your
design come out on top?
Ladleif: In the first instance, it was arguably the unusual orientation of
the building structure above all which spoke to the client directly, and
which also represents a key design feature. They liked the
arrangement perpendicular to the hillside with the strong orientation of
the western living areas and areas of use towards the side with the
view. The idea of the living space, which projects out over the hillside
and appears to float on top of the glass cube with storey-height façade
glazing on the ground floor when viewed from the main viewing
direction, also appealed to them. Our sophisticated concept for the
outside space, which takes into account both the natural surroundings
and the personal needs of the inhabitants, was also well received.
Were there no objections or discussions?
Ladleif: Of course we had detailed constructive discussions about
numerous individual solutions. In the beginning there were
fundamental reservations about having a flat roof, which I was
nevertheless able to dispel by making reference to current technical
designs. I myself had to come to terms with the client's desire for a
fixed terrace roof integrated in the façade above the kitchen glazing on
the ground floor. I personally would have preferred to have left the
building structure symmetrical and without projecting elements in the
façade. But the flat roof solution, which appears to float and projects
out from the façade, was a viable option for me in the end too.
Does the design bear some of the characteristic traits of your
office's design work?
Ladleif: The construction of sophisticated, private family homes is
already a specialisation of our office, although we have also
constructed a few prestigious public buildings. Although the individual
solutions are unique, there is a sort of Ladleif Architekten signature.
This includes our aim of organising building structures in such a way
that moving experiences of the view and space, as well as surprising
perspectives, are created. I personally have an aversion to corridors
and dark reception areas. I love long, far-reaching views. We have
often been able to create these experiences with rectangular and
elongated building structures. However, thinking outside the box is
never an end in itself for us, and individuality should not be
ostentatious; rather, the aim should always be to produce the optimum
solution for the specific needs of the client.
You use a wide variety of building materials and systems in the
façade. What role does system glazing play in this?
Ladleif: As can be seen in the example of the Warburg project, large
areas of glass in the façade and roof generally play a large role in
daylight management. We prefer to use storey-height glazing without
a cross bar. Triple glazing compositions with multiple functions place
high structural demands on the systems. On top of this are additional
requirements, such as solar shading and automation, which should be
integrated in an elegant manner.
The Schüco lift-and-slide walls in Warburg are a good example of the
performance of high quality aluminium profile systems. When
combined with an experienced fabricator, special solutions are
possible, such as installation flush with the ground, the integration of
solar shading and electronic control, as well as the elegant link to fixed
system glazing. Another benefit is the uniform appearance of the
profile face widths within a system family - be it a door, partition wall,
window, façade, sliding door or roof glazing.
Schüco – System solutions for windows, doors, façades and solar products.
Together with its worldwide network of partners, architects, specifiers and investors,
Schüco creates sustainable building envelopes which focus on people and their
needs in harmony with nature and technology. The highest demands for design,
comfort and security can be met, whilst simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions
through energy efficiency, thereby conserving natural resources. The company and its
Metal, PVC-U and New Energies divisions deliver tailored products for newbuilds and
renovations, designed to meet individual user needs in all climate zones. With 5000
employees and 12,000 partner companies, Schüco is active in 78 countries and
achieved a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in 2012. For more information, visit
www.schueco.de
Further information about publication:
Schüco International KG
Ulrike Krüger
Karolinenstr. 1 - 15
33609 Bielefeld
Tel.: +49 (0)521 783-803
Fax: +49 (0)521 783-657
E-mail: PR@schueco.com
www.schueco.de/presse
Picture credits:
Fig. 1 - 7: Schüco International KG
Fig. 8 - 9: Ladleif Architekten
Fig. 1
Unusual: the elongated, bar-like building structure with its glazed
"head" is aligned perpendicular to, rather than parallel with, the
hillside. On both levels there are spectacular views of Warburg, its
outskirts and the landscaped outside space.
Fig. 2
Part of the design by Ladleif Architekten from Kassel is a sophisticated
concept for the outside space with dry sandstone walls and terraces,
which organically adapts itself to the semi-circular hillside site and
integrates the existing trees.
Fig. 3
Living space and terrace on the first floor - the large lift-and-slide door
system is set back by the width of the terrace, which prevents
overheating in the summer. The roof glazing permits additional light
penetration. Dimensions of the Schüco ASS 70.HI lift-and-slide door
system (W x H): 6.44 m x 2.67 m.
Fig. 4
Lift-and-slide door system as a transparent division between the
kitchen and covered terrace area on the ground floor. On the ground
floor, the systems have been designed as a special construction
based on the Schüco ASS 70.HI system connected to the Schüco
FW50+.SI façade system. In front of the living space on the top floor,
the installation has been constructed without attachment to the
mullion/transom façade to conform with the system.
Fig. 5
The system profiles for the glazed units, which have a matt grey
TIGER coating with a metallic fine texture, create the colour link
between the red wine Eternit façade panels, the white of the ceilings
and walls, as well as the solid oak panels and basalt slabs.
Fig. 6
Kitchen on the ground floor with "pilot's view" - the view of Warburg
and its outskirts in front; an uninterrupted view of the premises up to
the boundary to the side. Visually, there is no division between the
inside and outside throughout the year. In the warmer months, the
sliding walls make this division functional. Unit dimensions (W x H) on
the east side (straight ahead in the picture): 6.11 m x 2.50 m; on the
south side (right): 7.37 x 2.50 m.
Fig. 7
Transition to the old building renovated in 1987 (adjoining on the left),
which offers an extra 120 m² of usable space for guests and family.
Large areas of fixed glazing and glazed doors channel daylight into
the building structure here as well. The dimensions of the system (W x
H) are 10.71 m x 2.50 m, constructed as a Schüco FW50+.HI
mullion/transom façade system
Fig. 8_1
Section detail, not to scale
Fig. 8_2
Plan of the ground floor, not to scale
Fig. 8_3
Plan of the top floor, not to scale
Fig. 9
Meinrad Ladleif, Ladleif Architekten, Kassel.