A transformed former workshop combines period charm with contemporary design

Rough wooden beams, creaking floorboards, cracked plaster and faded paintwork... it must take a lot of imagination to look beyond these kinds of obstacles. But buildings that are in a less than ideal condition are exactly what Nicola Petereit and Jörg Haufe live for. The couple architect has a passion for period properties and their firm Haufe Petereit Architects has already completed a number of successful renovation projects.

When it came to designing their own home, they found the perfect blank canvas in an abandoned painting workshop in Lübeck.

Peeling back the layers

Before its transformation into the home, it is today, the property had been used for various commercial activities. After the departure of the building’s previous owner and the closure of the factory, the period property on Fleischhauerstrasse stood empty for three years.

Luckily, Nicola Petereit and Jörg Haufe, who moved to Lübeck in 1996 after completing their studies in architecture, were not put off by the condition of the property.

Fascinating original features around every corner

Even after a full scheme of renovation and modernisation work, the new owners wanted the building to reflect its industrial heritage. They opted to retain many historical aspects of the property and transform ‘flaws’ into design features.

The paint-spattered floorboards on the top floor were scrubbed and oiled to highlight the traces left behind by the painters who previously worked in the building. Exposed pipes, brickwork and cracked wooden beams were all left in place to tell the fascinating story of this historic piece of architecture.

A spacious home that combines old with new

The former rear courtyard was enlarged with the addition of a new extension It is now designed to seamlessly harmonise with the scale and colour palette of the existing building. The unusually large window breaks up the period architecture. The ground floor is flooded with light and houses a living room, dining room and an open-plan kitchen.

Built-in floor-to-ceiling cabinets with minimalist glossy white doors create the perfect backdrop for the contemporary kitchen island and rustic wooden staircase. On the first floor, there is a library, bedroom with bathroom and access to the roof terrace. The top floor houses two children’s rooms.

Modernising with design highlights

Along with historic details, the architects also took great care when selecting the new elements of their interior. Polished aluminium door handles, shining steel beams and chrome-plated bathroom fittings create contras to the otherwise unpolished charm of the interior.

The property was also fitted with new electrics, including new light switches and socket outlets. The freshly plastered white walls were given a timeless finish with matt anthracite switches from the Gira E2 design line. With its minimalist shape, the design original was the perfect choice for this seamless blend of old and new.