How can a single-family house be architecturally innovative and homely and cosy at the same time? With spacious, open spaces, a sophisticated lighting concept and clever built-in furniture – just like here with the Reuter family.

Modern prefabricated house with wooden façade

With a plot of land on the outskirts of the city, the planning for the family home of Britta and Stefan Reuter began. Originally, the idea was to renovate the existing house. However, discussions with the responsible building planners and their own father-in-law, a garden and landscape architect, convinced the family to build a new building.

“We wanted an individual house in which we could contribute many of our own ideas,” Britta Reuter recalls of the time when the old apartment in the city centre had become too small. “We wouldn’t necessarily have come up with a prefabricated house.” Baufritz’s concept, however, enabled the family to implement their personal needs in the way they wanted for their new home. The Reuters were finally able to move into the family house, which was pleasantly reserved from the outside, in November 2020.

Model of the house from the 3D printerThe architect’s brother was also inspired by the architect’s plans, designing a detailed model of the house on a 3D printer. “It felt like we were able to ‘live’ before we moved in,” says Britta Reuter. Even the position of the sun and the incidence of light were simulated in the 3D model. After moving out of the bright Art Nouveau apartment, the family wanted to rediscover the feeling of natural brightness in their new home.

Carefully planned

Building in a mature living environment proved to be quite a challenge. And the building permit was also a long time coming, which the family now sees almost positively. In the meantime, they were able to decide on equipment and furnishings in peace.

A conscious decision: the Reuter family did not move into the house until the garden planning had been completed. Having to climb into the house via Euro pallets did not seem to be an option for the builders. Instead, everyone in the family now has a special connection to the garden, because “we had the paving stones in our own hands”.

Bright and flooded with light

Spacious, but not uncomfortable despite all the vastness – that’s the impression when you enter the house of the Reuter family. This has been achieved with extra-high rooms, French doors and a bay window. The planning of the windows follows the position of the sun. As here in the kitchen, they were deliberately placed over the corner so that a lot of light falls into the dining area, especially in the morning.

Planning trick, room divider and attractive visual axis: The fireplace block offers glass views of the fireplace in the middle from the dining and living areas.

The guest bathroom on the ground floor is also homely and elegant. Here, dark blue walls meet light herringbone tiles, fine terrazzo patterns and golden fittings.

Again and again, visitors to the family are fascinated by how tidy and stylistically coherent life is lived in the approximately 175 square meter house. Everything finds its place and the order seems almost random, but is the result of carefully thought-out planning. Cabinet solutions instead of wall solutions on the ground floor are one of the secrets. For example, there are floor-to-ceiling fixtures in the cloakroom and a hidden storage room between the study and the cloakroom.

Sophisticated lighting concept

Due to indirect light, many wall lights and dimmers, there is an atmospheric atmosphere in the house, which can be seen, among other things, in the bathroom in the attic. With plenty of daylight and unusual perspectives such as the desired view directly from the shower.

Open at the top

The gallery on the upper floor provides additional airspace and connects two levels as if they were one. Even more light is brought into the house by windows above the gallery, a light strip at the level of the gallery and cleverly placed skylights. At the same time, the lenses keep out UV rays and heat.

Domicile for the little ones

In the attic of the single-family house, in addition to the parents’ bedroom, the family bathroom and a utility room, there are two children’s rooms – for the three-year-old son and daughter in infancy. This one is deliberately kept discreet with natural and pink tones. A study on the ground floor and a hobby room in the basement can be combined in favor of a third children’s room if necessary.

Naturalness in the bedroomThe parents’ bedroom is also dominated by natural colours and warm light sources, both in terms of the walls and in terms of furniture and accessories. Above the bedside table floats pendant lamp “Flowerpot”.