For 18 years, Robert and his wife, Patricia, have lived in this property that his parents first bought in the 1970s. Now, Volhard is a partner in an international commercial law firm and commutes between Frankfurt, Paris, and London. But he also studied architecture at the ETH Zurich and 25 years ago, he founded Stylepark, an online magazine and platform for architecture and design products. It proved to be an invaluable resource at a time when most people in Germany were still leafing through thick catalogs in architecture offices when it came time to source products.
A bold break in style
When the couple’s children were headed off to boarding school, it became apparent that the building’s roof urgently needed to be replaced. The couple took this as a sign to go bigger than a typical patch-up—and opted instead for a bold architectural reimagining of their home. “In our old age, we wanted to give ourselves a roof garden in the middle of the city,” the Volhards tell AD. This required a migration upward into the attic of their building, which presented just one problem: the idea of living in a mansard apartment, which means all-around sloped ceilings, had no appeal to them.
Then, they met architect Peter Begon at a friend’s party. “He told me about his plans,” says Begon. “He had a design in mind, but the building regulations seemed insurmountable.” Fortunately, Begon’s office, B.A.S. Architekten, not only knew how to renovate historic buildings, but also how to satisfy the aspirations of today’s city dwellers. “In the 19th century, buildings tended to have a certain character where the relationship between public and private was clearly defined,” says Begon. “Today, many people want instead a sense of openness and light.”
The architects reconfigured the old mansard floor, with its awkward angled walls, into a new one where most of the walls are vertical and views of the surrounding city are a highlight. They also looked upwards to the unused floor above, creating a green roof garden next to the enclosed area. The architects pushed their clients towards a greater openness when it came to the floor plan. “I objected a little because we needed some walls where we could hang our art,” recalls Volhard. Begon helped to change his clients’ minds when he asked, albeit dryly, whether they would rather live in an apartment or a museum.
When one enters the home now, among the things they’ll notice first is the massive stainless-steel block in the kitchen. “Some people don’t like it,” says Volhard, shrugging his shoulders. “But I like to cook.” There’s no contradiction between efficiency and aesthetics for this design-savvy chef. Even during the planning phase, the client left no doubt that he had a very clear idea of some features he wanted the apartment to include. “Robert sent us a detailed list of specific requests ranging from the kitchen layout to the dimensions of the shelves in the library,” says Sven Petzold from Holzrausch. “I thought this project could either end up being a nightmare or it will be smooth and seamless.”
