© Björn Martenson
A row house in Aachen, built in the 1960s, was completely modernised in 2018 and now offers room for a young family. To achieve this, the architects of Amunt Martenson intervened in the building fabric in a targeted manner: On the ground floor they demolished non-load bearing walls in order to create a generous living kitchen. They created an opening in the slab above the topmost full floor, thus expanding the living area by including the existing, yet heretofore unused attic. A new staircase leads upwards to the space beneath the gabled roof. Its slanted ceilings were completely clad in plywood panels. All pieces of furniture and built-in elements consist of this material as well. The simple and raw appearance of the materials and the partially visible load-bearing structure give the newly created work and bedroom area for the parents beneath the roof its special character. The corrugated web beams, part of the existing structure, continue to carry the weight of the roof together with a new, insulated timber cassette construction on top of them. At the same time, they visibly structure the inner roof surfaces. Roof windows placed between the beams provide daylight and fresh air. Tall curtains subdivide the roof space as required and improve its acoustic qualities.
With this project as entry, Amunt Martenson won the Velux Architectural Competition 2020. The Jury determined: “Quality has nothing to do with size, and good architecture doesn't need to dress up. This roof extension convincingly solves an everyday construction task on a minimal budget. Its quality is based on three virtues: The art of omission, revealing the structure in a comprehensive manner and the remarkable restraint based on what was found on-site. The limited colour and material selections complement each other, creating concordant harmony. Architecture and furniture merge within a synthesis seldom seen before. The slender and tall roof windows provide this great room beneath the roof with elegance and balance thanks to their diligent placement.”
(Supported by VELUX)
With this project as entry, Amunt Martenson won the Velux Architectural Competition 2020. The Jury determined: “Quality has nothing to do with size, and good architecture doesn't need to dress up. This roof extension convincingly solves an everyday construction task on a minimal budget. Its quality is based on three virtues: The art of omission, revealing the structure in a comprehensive manner and the remarkable restraint based on what was found on-site. The limited colour and material selections complement each other, creating concordant harmony. Architecture and furniture merge within a synthesis seldom seen before. The slender and tall roof windows provide this great room beneath the roof with elegance and balance thanks to their diligent placement.”
(Supported by VELUX)