According to the architects, the project of reconstruction and restoration of the house was a real challenge to their abilities, knowledge and experience.
Turning an old building, which has experienced many owners and upheavals over its more than a century and a half history, into a cozy mansion for a family with three children is a task only for brave people who can defy the times.
Reconstruction of the facades of the mansion
The house with a garden is located in the central part of one of the districts of Berlin. Once there was a police station in the mansion, the rooms were small, and there were a lot of them, then the building was empty for a long time, and now it needs to be transformed into modern comfortable housing. Another difficulty is that the building is protected by the state, so the facades had to be restored as close as possible to the original appearance of the house.
The architects restored the external facades according to the drawings of 1844, used ancient technologies and materials, today the facades look quite modern, but the spirit of history hovers in these walls. The city authorities approved the restoration project.
All internal premises were destroyed, only the facade walls and a massive load-bearing wall in the central part of the building remained. The roof was replaced, a new roof with skylights flooded the interior with natural light.
Layouts and style of interiors
The old house was filled with modern content, there are no more small dark rooms. From the inside, the house resembles a medieval loft-style castle, the interiors leave an ambiguous impression, but they definitely remain in the memory. They may not seem cozy enough to some, but simple laconic furniture, thoughtful accessories and some design techniques soften the brutal design, bring comfort and even playfulness. For example, shelf ladders, a punching bag, garlands of flags or a colored mesh in a children's bedroom. Unusually shaped bottle chandeliers in the kitchen area make this part of the common space with the living room and dining room intimate and very homely.
Central old Brick wall became part of the renovated interiors, and the staircase, kitchen and some bedrooms were integrated with it. The future owners took an active part in the creation of their home, contributed their ideas and wishes to its design, even the washbasins and bathroom were specially designed and made to order for this project.
Today, the family mansion of the Miller family has become one of the attractions of the area; it, like a Phoenix bird, has been revived and will serve its owners for more than one hundred years.
