past & present overlap within henning grahn's wooden residential extension in germany

perspective view of the Holzbox residential extension | all images by David Schreyer

an overlap of old and new 

As the existing floor of the old house is raised one meter, the attached wooden box is also elevated to ensure accessibility to the internal connections. This also protects the box from flooding from the small stream next to the garden.

From the outside, the project by Henning Grahn Architektur (find more here) plays on the overlap of old and new elements. But on closer inspection, old and new overlap both spatially and functionally on the inside, as well. A sequence of rooms with increasing ceiling heights from the kitchen to the dining area, ending in a two-story gallery in the living room. The surprisingly spacious gallery connects the new living room to the existing upstairs corridor in the old house.

the extension is elevated to ensure an accessible internal connection to the original structure

With only one window per elevation, the box appears to be a robust. However, the windows also offer a surprise: from the outside, they appear to be a single element, but in reality, they consist of two merged windows, behind which there are different spaces that offer interesting views and increased natural light.

The sustainable two-story construction of the box consists of wooden frames and solid wooden ceilings with an experimental facade made of specially treated MDF panels without visible fasteners. The replaced windows in the old house and the flush-mounted windows in the addition are made of larch wood, visually connecting old and new. After completion of the remodeling work, the residents enter the house via a massive staircase at the front. In the hidden backyard, they can relax on the new steps next to the stream under a walnut tree.

large widnows frame the view and provide optimal lighting for the new living environment

the dining area

the living room

the staircase leading to the [private areas of the house

the children’s room

the gallery

the gallery

project info: 

name: Holzbox
architects: Henning Grahn Architektur (HGA) | @hga.archi
location: Mainz, Germany 
area: 165 sqm
photography: David Schreyer | @schreyerdavid_bild 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom