“We had VELUX roof windows in our previous home, a row house which we have refurbished to meet our needs as good as a refurbishment can, so we knew about the advantages of light coming in from above.”

- Jan Vollmer, investor and inhabitant of the house

Every story of a new single-family house begins with the question: why was it constructed?

Many stories are similar and start with the needs of a growing family, but by far, not all families have such a clear picture of their wishes that they decide to start a house from scratch. The Vollmer family knew what they dreamed of: a house with equal rooms for all children, a bedroom with a dressing room, lots of space on the ground floor and plenty of daylight.

Brick house with steep roof and VELUX windows, surrounded by garden.

Design: WITO Massivhaus- und Baugesellschaft mbH; Photos: Torben Eskerod

After a research of the market, they decided to entrust the design and construction of their new home with WITO Massivhaus- und Baugesellschaft mbH. Name of the company – in German – makes a hint to the solid construction of houses as well as the execution of their designs. The company is well known around Hamburg and awarded with seal of quality for their products. A standard project was customised to meet the exact needs of the future inhabitants. The roof windows were added later, though, as the investors were used to more daylight.

Attic bedroom with VELUX roof windows and balcony doors, bright and cozy.

Design: WITO Massivhaus- und Baugesellschaft mbH; Photos: Torben Eskerod

"Although the kids’ bedrooms are rather large, it is not possible to leave a whole toy train or complicated brick constructions standing in the middle and still be able to go to bed or do the homework comfortably. The attic is the space to play big time."

- Jan Vollmer, investor and inhabitant of the house

One enters the house through a spacious lobby, with entrances to a guest toilet and wardrobe located symmetrically just behind the front door. The hall, with stair to the first floor, opens up on to the dining area overlooking the garden. The open, almost symmetrical layout with the sofa corner on the right and kitchen on the left has warm, light, friendly materials and plenty of daylight.

Bright kitchen and dining area with modern design and large windows.

Design: WITO Massivhaus- und Baugesellschaft mbH; Photos: Torben Eskerod

Graphic

Series of detailed floor plans for a multi-level residential building.

Architect: WITO Massivhaus- und Baugesellschaft mbH

The upper floor with bedrooms is divided into the parents and kids area – and the tiny fuse box and music server room. The entrance to the master bedroom with a private bath leads through a spectacular dressing-room with balcony door. This unusual solution is convenient and allows one partner to stand up and get ready without waking up the spouse. The two kids have their bathroom and identical bedrooms.

The attic – which the investor finishes off by himself – will be an open space for the children to play, will have a corner with a guest bed-sofa and storage area under the lower roof gable above the house entrance. Large VELUX roof windows provide lots of daylight, making it a dream playground on days when the weather does not allow the children to play outdoors.