"Before we moved in here, we were renting spectacular homes for our holidays. Now we do not need it anymore - we hardly need to travel at all. We live in the prettiest holiday home we have ever been to!"
Every day holidays
Philip Garbers, a wood engineer, takes care of structural design and production of the building physics calculations in Dammann Haus, a small company designing and producing single-family wooden houses. Located in northern Germany, Damman Haus offers energy-efficient, tailor-made solutions. Although every house is different, most of them have gable roofs - often with VELUX roof windows. Garbers' family house is also entirely made out of wood, a material, which the designer knows and likes best. "When I touch wood, my heart goes up. That does not happen when i touch brick or concrete. Following my passion and education, I put a hand on the construction site of my house."
More roof windows
As Philip Garbers started the design, he already was in contact with VELUX representatives and well aware of the importance of daylight. The design task was to build a home for his family: wife and four children, aged 6 to 14. The ground floor consists of technical spaces, open kitchen with dining area - the heart of the house, living room, and home office. The latter can be converted to a separate apartment, which makes the house is ready for the future. Should the children move out, it can be divided into independent apartments. There are also technical spaces as well as an annex, which could be a garage - but is a bike shed and a home wood workshop at the moment. All bedrooms are on the first floor, together with a generously designed bathroom. The airy attic consists of two spaces connected by a wooden bridge: playing area and yoga room.
"I looked astonished at the photorealistic renderings VELUX prepared. They suggested much more windows than I was expecting, but the images convinced me to do what they have suggested."
- Philip Garbers, Damman Haus
Intelligent airing habits
With six people in the house, ventilation is an important topic. All VELUX roof windows in the attic can be opened and closed literally at the touch of a button. Apart from this, there is no mechanical ventilation system; the family relies on keeping up intelligent airing habits. The kids are taught to keep the roof windows and blinds closed on a hot day, and how opening all roof windows makes the stale air rise to the top and leave the house through the roof windows..
"When my wife saw the image of the bathroom that VELUX prepared, she said: that's exactly how I want it built! Our shower with a roof window above is definitely a design highlight in the house," says Philip Garbers, Damman Haus.
Graphic
Unwind in the sun
The favourite room of the Garbers family is the one where they all meet for meals - and the one where they can unwind and spend time alone.
"We have a room in the house, at the very top, which we keep empty on purpose. It is a calm space, full of light, with beautiful views over the surrounding fields. I like to unroll my yoga mat here and meditate. The clear daylight up there here gives me peace and a clear mind," - says Mr. Garbers, and Ms. Garbers adds: "I always liked to do sports at home, but before I had to do it in dark, cluttered spaces. Now I can leave the turmoil of house live behind. The room is so pretty - thanks to the VELUX roof windows so much sun comes in. I like to be there."