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"House at the Buddenturm"

TECE Referenzen: hehnpohl architektur bda schafft mit dem „Haus am Buddenturm“ ein architektonisches Juwel. TECE liefert für das Bad tragende Konstruktionselemente und stilvolle Betätigungsplatten.
Germany , Münster

Radical modernity in a historical ambience

hehnpohl architektur bda creates an architectural jewel with the “House at the Buddenturm”. TECE supplies supporting construction elements and stylish flush plates for the bathroom.

Christian Pohl has his very own idea of what makes the "House at the Buddenturm” stand out: “If it looks as if it had always been there, then we’ve done everything right,” says the Münster-based architect with a wink. That’s exactly what he and colleague Marc Hehn created in 2018: a residential building that blends effortlessly into its historically influenced surroundings - and yet is radically modern in its unique way.

Christian Pohl und Marc Hehn von hehnpohl architektur bda. Foto: © Paul Metzdorf
Christian Pohl and Marc Hehn of hehnpohl architektur bda. Photo: © Paul Metzdorf

Planning that moves boundaries

At first glance, the four-storey building fits seamlessly in terms of scale and roof form between the early medieval fortified tower and the gabled houses of the Buddenstraße. However, hehnpohl architektur bda did not simply close a gap between buildings. Instead, they staged an exciting play with the boundaries of the property: the facade is derived from the lines of the neighbouring rows of houses and the building line of the property's boundary. Towards the top, the storeys extend further and further forward beyond the actual boundary. This trick not only impacts on the appearance, it also has a practical benefit: it increases the living space.

Views and insights with corners and edges

The architects create additional breaks in the facade design through the purist design of the openings. On the ground floor, copper panels cover the garage door and the entrance to the house. They prevent outsiders gaining an insight into the interior of the house, but reflect the surroundings. On the first floor, the window is a bay window turned inwards. From here, residents have a view of the Buddenturm, the tower which is the oldest surviving part of the former city fortification. A generous window opening on the first floor also allows for views. However, the Hehn and Pohl team did without all forms of axial symmetry.

Radikale Modernität, integriert ins historische Umfeld.
Radical modernity, integrated into historical surroundings. Photo: © hehnpohl architektur bda
Großzügiger Ausblick auf den Buddenturm. Foto: © hehnpohl architektur bda
Generous view of the Buddenturm. Photo: © hehnpohl architektur bda

Visible traditional craftsmanship

For the facade material, the architects used the brick typical of Münster's old town. The coal-fired hand-moulded bricks from the ring kiln provided no crating to bring out the originality of the material. After mortaring, the facade was simply cleaned with a broom, thereby preserving the traces of craftsmanship.

Exciting interplay of materials

The dynamic effect created by the staggering of the facade is continued in the interior. This is characterised by exposed concrete on the walls and ceilings as well as oiled oak floorboards. Light is an integral part of this exciting ensemble: via the stairwell, the “House at the Buddenturm” fans out floor by floor to daylight, which enters the interior through the roof glazing. Indirect light modulates the room moods depending on the time of day and season.

Making complex things appear simple

So much effort to make it look as if the building has always been there? “That is exactly the skill,” confirm Pohl and Hehn smiling. “It's about making things appear simple that actually are anything but simple.”

TECE: technically and aesthetically convincing

The bathrooms present themselves confidently as full-blown living areas. “Our design approach naturally fully incorporates modern bathroom architecture,” claim Marc Hehn and Christian Pohl. Supporting parts and stylish accents come from the Emsdetten-based family business TECE: the constructions for washstands and toilets and, as the icing on the cake, “TECEnow”. This is the design flush plate with reserved geometry and generous buttons. The particularly flat design of the flush plate and the flush-mounted assembly further emphasise its clear effect. The high-quality overall impression is underlined by the rich, mechanical feel of the rubber-buffered buttons. hehnpohl architektur bda opted for the trend colour black when selecting the surface.

“We are always keen to use TECE products to furnish our properties because the quality meets our requirements,” confirms architect Pohl. “Another advantage is that the company has a strong regional presence. The initial contact with the products was established by the tradesmen who like to work with the Emsdetten-based constructions. In addition, the design of the application components is also sophisticated - the TECE products also have an aesthetic appeal.”

From an early stage TECE realised that for more and more clients, the bathroom is the focal point of the home. Easy planning and freedom of design are important when it comes to the implementation - regardless of the size of the room or the size of the budget.

Stefan Schaefer, Sales Manager Project Management at TECE emphasises: “We see ourselves as a partner to architects, planners and clients, to whom we aim to offer technically sophisticated solutions. Solutions such as TECEnow, which satisfy the most demanding design requirements while at the same time integrating economically and functionally into the overall concept of bathroom planning.”

Wohnlichkeit und puristische Eleganz im Bad.
 Foto: © hehnpohl architektur bda
Cosiness and puristic elegance in the bathroom. Photo: © hehnpohl architektur bda
Clevere Raumaufteilung mit integrierten TECE Tragekonstruktionen  für Waschtische und WCs. Foto: © hehnpohl architektur bda
Clever room division with integrated TECE support structures
for washstands and toilets. Photo: © hehnpohl architektur bda

Awards for an architectural jewel

Planning expertise, engineering art, design: The successful combination of these components makes the “House at the Buddenturm” an architectural jewel - and a multiple award-winning property:

  • German Brick Award 2019: Special prize for building in a historical context
  • 1st prize “Houses of the Year” 2019
  • Shortlist for DAM Prize 2020
  • German Design Award 2020
  • best architects 20
  • Iconic Award 2019 – Best of Best
  • Recognition of the Concrete Architecture Prize 2020
  • Award for exemplary buildings in North Rhine-Westphalia 2020
  • Silver Fritz-Höger-Prize for Brick Architecture 2020
  • Award for Architecture Prize BDA Münster-Münsterland
TTECEnow design flush plate with generous buttons. Photo: © TECE