Sanitation and heating engineer Lucke consistently relies on TECE for the construction of his own home
In Berlin, there is a single-family home of a special kind: a bungalow in an atrium design with a nearly windowless exterior shell. Daylight penetrates only through the fully glazed facade in the inner courtyard – an exclusive retreat in the heart of the Spree metropolis. In addition to its impressive architecture, the building impresses with its sustainability and accessibility features. The heating, pre-wall, plumbing, and piping systems are supplied by the Emsdetten-based building services specialist TECE.
The unusual building in Berlin-Weißensee took four years of planning and a good year of construction.
The result is impressive: an upscale interior, 150 square meters of living space, and a 50-square-meter atrium. The gray exterior facade is only interrupted by the doors and a small window in the guest bathroom. Daylight penetrates almost exclusively through the spacious atrium.
The building's technical features are also impressive in this inconspicuous-from-the-outside property: a gas condensing boiler, solar thermal system, heating water buffer tank, water-based fireplace, fresh water module, soft water system, and controlled living space ventilation.
The client is master plumber Stefan Lucke, who also handled the installation work himself and is now a satisfied resident of the property: "Ecological sustainability was very important to me during construction. The technology used is extremely proven and also efficient in its use of resources."
The bungalow is heated by underfloor heating, which draws its heat from the buffer tank. The complete TECEfloor system consists of heating pipes, installation accessories, and a manifold. The underfloor heating is supported by environmentally friendly concrete core activation in the solid ceiling. Water circulates in the TECEfloor Silver Line Quality heating pipes installed there, absorbing or releasing heat from the ceiling depending on the temperature.
A major advantage in summer: Thanks to the cooling effect, an expensive and energy-guzzling air conditioning system is unnecessary. At night, the pipes transfer heat to the ground, preventing the building from overheating. When outside temperatures are cold, the water from the buffer tank cools the ceiling, creating pleasant radiant heat.
For the bathroom, Stefan Lucke also relies on building technology from Emsdetten, starting with the TECEprofil pre-wall system: "As a self-employed plumber, I've been impressed by the system for a long time. Installation is easy and saves valuable construction time." With just three basic components (profile pipe, corner connector, and mounting bracket), the sanitary walls were quickly erected and the pipes and tubes were neatly installed. The drywall-constructed supporting structure made of galvanized steel profile pipes provides structurally secure support for the washbasin and toilet, without the messy, sweaty process of sharpening and plastering the solid wall.
For the toilet, Lucke opted for the standard TECEprofil toilet module with an integrated dual-flush cistern. The water-saving dual-flush technology is activated by the TECEloop real glass flush plate. The large button activates the 4.5-liter full flush, the small one the 3-liter partial flush. Minimalist and functionally structured, the flush-mounted flush plate blends elegantly and unobtrusively into the architecture.
The multifunctional TECElux 400 toilet terminal awaits users in the bungalow's guest toilet. Here, the seat height of the ceramic can be subsequently adjusted by up to eight centimeters, depending on their lifestyle. "I'm over 50. Naturally, when building a house, you think about age and accessibility. If I'm no longer as mobile, thanks to TECElux, I can adjust the seat height without major renovation work," says Lucke. The fully equipped TECElux 400 version conceals all manner of technology, invisibly hidden within the wall: the economical dual-flush cistern with a slot for cleaning tablets, an air filtration system, and the electronics for the touchless "sen-Touch" flushing system – conveniently accessible via a 53 x 38 centimeter inspection opening concealed by a hinged safety glass panel. The sleek, white panel harmonizes with the white walls and serves as an easy-to-clean splash guard. A built-in proximity sensor detects when a person approaches the toilet and activates the illumination of the dual-flush buttons, which shines through the glass.
The shower area is also designed to be sustainable, timeless and barrier-free. Seamlessly tiled throughout the bathroom, without thresholds or steps, the flooring extends to the flush-mounted TECEdrainline shower channel. Damping elements provide additional safety and ensure the white safety glass cover sits securely and securely, seamlessly, and continues the TECElux and TECEloop design concept in the shower. Beneath the easily removable cover sits the seamless and therefore easy-to-clean stainless steel channel body. It has no gaps or screws and offers no niches for hard-to-reach dirt deposits.
Stefan Lucke has lived in his new home since July 2015. "I'll definitely be able to survive here for the next 50 years," laughs the plumbing and heating engineer.