In the German city of Münster, one of the historic residential buildings has been modernised and extended. The property on Weißenburgstraße has been transformed into a building where daylight, continuity of form and passive solutions play a key role. The clear design was implemented using economical construction techniques based on natural ventilation and heat accumulation. The shape of the roof, which is the dominant feature of this project, organises the structure and its interior. The new life of the old house in Münster was made possible by the Andreas Schüring Architekten BDA studio.
The history of the barracks in Münster
The building is located on the site of a former barracks complex from the early 20th century, which in recent years has been transformed into a cosy residential area with limited vehicle traffic. Only selected houses and the commandant’s office have been preserved from the original buildings, creating a clear spatial layout. The house from 1913, located at Weißenburgstraße 24, now serves as a landmark within the estate.
New life for an old house
The form of the historic building differs from the typical military aesthetic. The brick structure was designed with attention to detail and proportions, giving it a lightness and decorative expression. It was this specificity that became the basis for the architects and set the direction for their design work. Instead of neutralising the existing form, a dialogue was established with its geometry and rhythm, treating it as an active element of the new composition of the house.
The body and shape of the roof
The extension was designed as a smooth development of the existing brick structure. A new part emerges from it, gradually transitioning into a bright superstructure within the mansard roof. The break in its slope is reduced, and the historic cornice is transformed into a roof. The whole creates a uniform sequence of forms, in which the old structure retains its legibility, and the new part develops its spatial logic.
Interior layout and daylight
The interior of the 125-metre building is subordinated to a vertical communication axis. A centrally located staircase connects all floors and brings daylight down to the lowest level. This is made possible by the light steel construction of the stairs. In the attic, an openwork solution was used instead of a solid ceiling, which improves the lighting of the lower floors and allows for better natural air circulation throughout the building.
Protecting the house from overheating
On the garden side, the building opens up through a large glazed area, providing residents with direct contact with greenery. At the same time, the architects have used tricks to limit excessive heating of the interior. Deep roof eaves, an extended cornice and solid wall sections on the south side provide effective protection in summer without the use of additional shading systems.
New life for an old house – technologies
The design is based on low-tech principles that utilise natural physical phenomena. The open staircase and central air space create a chimney effect that allows for effective ventilation of all floors. This whole process would not be as effective without a controlled roof window. The stability of the conditions inside the house is ensured by massive brick walls, working in conjunction with an air source heat pump and underfloor heating powered by renewable energy.
Construction, materials and details
During the project, the existing structure of the annex was largely utilised, supplemented with a thin concrete slab for fire safety reasons. The mansard roof was constructed as a lightweight hybrid structure made of steel and wood. Beam ceilings relieve the load on the historic walls, and the interior of the house features exposed white fir surfaces. Bricks from the demolished walls were recycled and finished with lime slurry, which improved the vapour permeability and visual unity of the entire building.
Design and materials: Andreas Schüring ArchitektenBDA
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