The Maas family attached great importance to ensuring that the construction work, which began in 2021, was in accordance with the age of their house. For this reason, they chose materials that were not only sustainable, but also preserved the character of the house. For example, the plastic windows were replaced with wooden windows, which are based on the original style but comply with the latest energy standards thanks to modern triple glazing. In keeping with this, they opted for interior insulation made from natural clay building materials, which allow the rooms to heat up quickly and can be perfectly combined with wall surface heating. With the professional and authentic approach to the restoration of the historic building, the client adapted the living conditions to the required standards of monument protection. The result is a light-flooded and cozy home for their family on 188 square meters of living space.
To build up the walls, the old plaster was removed from the original bricks, which date back to the original period. “Clay undercoat plaster with straw” was applied to the exposed bricks as a leveling plaster and interior insulation boards were installed over the entire surface. Using comb filling, a layer of “Clay adhesive and reinforcing mortar” and a reinforcing mesh created the base for thicker layers of plaster. Space-saving surface heating systems were embedded in some of the walls, which dissipate heat perfectly and ensure a pleasant indoor climate. For the surface design, both “Clay topcoat fine 06” and the white “ClayTec clay paint” were used.
The Maas family decided to create a one-to-one experience of clay in the room on some of the walls, with the “clay finishing plaster fine 06” forming the wall surface on these walls. The warm brown tone creates a cozy ambience and is a special highlight in the bright and modern home. The different textures created by the various clay products and techniques are clearly visible throughout the house and create a unique atmosphere.
The historic residential building in the center of Dülken demonstrates how a responsible renovation of a historical building can be implemented in accordance with the latest energy standards without compromising the requirements of a modern living space. Clay building materials are the ideal choice for combining traditional and modern building techniques.