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Berlin Houzz Tour: How 2 Apartments Were Remade as 1 Penthouse
This renovated German apartment boasts charmed views over Berlin and a new layout where spaces flow into one another
The family who now own this home were immediately thrilled with its location in Berlin’s Mitte neighbourhood – literally the centre of town. Less satisfying were the layout and quality of the recently completed top-floor extension. Nevertheless, architects Petr Barth and Taras Breker advised the family to buy the property, which had originally been designed and used as two separate apartments. The architects had viewed the home together with the owners, and immediately spotted its potential – even if they would need to make considerable changes before the family could move in.
When the family bought this space, it was still under construction. Yet the architects and owners knew from the beginning that they would have to rebuild it completely. The three bedrooms were to the south, and the social spaces were in the lower half of the north-facing part of the apartment. Moreover, the floor space was divided into lots of little rooms.
“First, we asked the building authority whether the roof could be raised in one half of the flat,” says Breker, one of the two minds behind Barth und Breker Architekten.
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Searching for a local architect? Find one near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Their creative interpretation of the guidelines won over the building authority, and they were able to raise the roof on the north-facing side of the apartment.
The architects were also able to flip the locations of the private and public areas. Today, the bedrooms and bathroom are located on the northern side. And the kitchen, dining and living area are now arranged in a row within an open-plan space on the south side.
The architects were also able to flip the locations of the private and public areas. Today, the bedrooms and bathroom are located on the northern side. And the kitchen, dining and living area are now arranged in a row within an open-plan space on the south side.
There are flowing transitions between the two halves of the home. One large opening in the central wall can be closed with the sliding living room storage unit to ensure quiet in the bedrooms. On the kitchen side, a new door with a vintage inlay is almost always kept open, as Barth notes. Nonetheless, it can also be used to break the circular pathway that was created in the new layout and cordon off the bedrooms.
Browse well-designed hallways to see how yours can better pull its weight
Browse well-designed hallways to see how yours can better pull its weight
Right at the beginning, when the roof was barely completed, the architects discovered damage: mould had started to grow on the incorrectly installed moisture barrier.
“We had to take away all the insulation. The new insulation between the rafters became the primary insulation, which allowed us to win back ceiling height,” says Breker.
The white-varnished ceiling battens are screwed into oriented strand board [OSB] sheets (similar to plywood), which are painted green in the kitchen and dining room and red in the living area. The warm-white light of the LED strips mounted between the battens reflects these colours.
“We had to take away all the insulation. The new insulation between the rafters became the primary insulation, which allowed us to win back ceiling height,” says Breker.
The white-varnished ceiling battens are screwed into oriented strand board [OSB] sheets (similar to plywood), which are painted green in the kitchen and dining room and red in the living area. The warm-white light of the LED strips mounted between the battens reflects these colours.
“Since the owners wanted to move in by a particular day – Christmas or New Year’s Eve – the timing was tight by the end and I had to lend a hand myself,” says Barth, who contributed his craftsmanship time and again.
The two architects allow their projects to take shape like a collage, and bring in unusual ideas that arise in the moment alongside their plans.
The two architects allow their projects to take shape like a collage, and bring in unusual ideas that arise in the moment alongside their plans.
“Before selling, the previous owner had put in new, relatively cheap engineered oak floorboards. We left them in place in the upper half of the flat, and simply sanded and re-stained them. We pulled them out in the lower half,” says Breker. Covered with a water-based epoxy resin, the screed still shows traces of this work, and has a pleasantly unfinished appearance with its pores, which are more open at some times, less open at others.
Used materials and upcycled items can be found throughout this home: the carpet on the floor, the old door leaf in the door, an old mahogany cupboard in the kitchen. Finding the latter turns into a kind of puzzle…
…Because it was taken apart into pieces that were then built into various parts of the long kitchen unit, which stretches from the kitchen to the living room.
It’s not only the old cupboard that shows a propensity for transformation, but also the new kitchen built-ins, which transform from a kitchen to a shelf and a seat.
It’s not only the old cupboard that shows a propensity for transformation, but also the new kitchen built-ins, which transform from a kitchen to a shelf and a seat.
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The handrail that accompanies the staircase to the rooftop terrace is also made of mahogany. It was once a railing on a ship.
If it hasn’t become clear already, Breker’s motto is reflected here: “Using low-budget materials and reusing things is not cheap,” he says. Often, a lot of craftsmanship goes into the building or reworking of materials or furniture. If you want to reuse materials, he advises, plan for a little more budget and be open to surprising results.
If it hasn’t become clear already, Breker’s motto is reflected here: “Using low-budget materials and reusing things is not cheap,” he says. Often, a lot of craftsmanship goes into the building or reworking of materials or furniture. If you want to reuse materials, he advises, plan for a little more budget and be open to surprising results.
This was no problem for the owners. “We had a lot of freedom in this renovation,” says Barth. Open and free are also fitting adjectives to describe the feel of the penthouse – and this is not only thanks to the view over Berlin from the rooftop terrace, but to the home itself.
Your turn
Where in this home would you like to while away the hours? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Keen to see another great home? Check out this Houzz Tour: A Holiday Home Among the Gums, With Views of the Sea
Your turn
Where in this home would you like to while away the hours? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Keen to see another great home? Check out this Houzz Tour: A Holiday Home Among the Gums, With Views of the Sea
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with two children
Location: Berlin, Germany
Size: 186 square metres, plus a rooftop terrace
Architects: Barth und Breker Architekten
To create this home, the penthouses in two neighbouring wings of a building were combined into one single space. As the two apartments were at different heights, a step runs through the length of the space where they are now joined. For the same reason, the north-facing rooms also have slightly lower ceilings than the south-facing ones.