The careful renovation of a historic town villa in Cologne from the 1930s combines its historically protected substance with modern elements. Especially on the interior, BEGA Luminaires add targeted accents and accentuate the villa’s architectural features.
The former home of Cardinal Frings, which later served as an office building, takes on a new shine after extensive modernisations. Under the management of the architectural firm Bauphasen, the historic facade was covered with a thin coat of insulating plaster, which faithfully imitates the original surface structure. The single-glazed windows were replaced with finely detailed double windows that offer acoustic and energetic advantages, while defining the architectural character of the building. In line with the preservation order, the original herringbone parquet remains. Since this ruled out the option of underfloor heating, the cosy warmth of the villa is instead provided by a heat pump and extensive ceramic elements on the walls.
The dining room combines historic elegance with a well-designed lighting concept: four black BEGA pendant luminaires float above the dining table, highlighting it as a central element and giving structure to the room. Their warm light is owed to their brass-coloured interior. In addition, BEGA ceiling luminaires create indirect illumination with asymmetrical light distribution that subtly accentuates the walls and ceilings. As a result, the luminaires create a bright, friendly atmosphere that combines with the chimney wall and open transition to the kitchen to accentuate the inviting character of the villa.
The narrow corridor of the villa is effectively illuminated by ACCENTA PURE recessed ceiling luminaires with a diameter of 80 millimetres. The soft, glare-free light brightens the passageway while accentuating the wall structure as a design element. This lighting solution makes the corridor feel unexpectedly spacious and open. Strategically placed luminaires steer the eye towards details such as the well-preserved door frames or the herringbone parquet. This also highlights the connection between the history of the home and the modern design. The corridor is an integral component of the aesthetic overall concept, which is defined by well-designed lighting.
Architect Bauphasen, Cologne
Construction management Bauphasen, Cologne
