vertical layering reorganizes 1891s berlin house into a modern family home
Club Marginal Architekten Restores 1891s House in Berlin
Located in the Berlin district of Friedrichshagen, Friedi & Hagen is the renovation of a semi-detached house originally constructed in 1891 within a protected urban conservation area. The project, designed by Club Marginal Architekten, focuses on restoring the building’s historical proportions while reorganizing the interior to accommodate contemporary family living.
The attic structure was completely reconstructed and expanded through the addition of dormers, increasing usable space within the upper level. On the exterior, the facade was restored with windows incorporating the original cross-bar configuration, while several architectural elements were reintroduced to reinforce the building’s historic composition and scale.
all images courtesy of Club Marginal Architekten
Oak Veneer, Travertine, and Pine define the Material palette
Interior modifications reorganize the middle floor as a dedicated area for the family’s two children. Each room incorporates a mezzanine level designed for play and additional occupation, alongside a private bathroom fitted with integrated furniture finished in a saturated orange tone. The spatial arrangement introduces vertical layering while maintaining continuity between built-in elements and circulation.
The upper attic level is configured as the parents’ private area. Adjacent to the bedroom, a large bathroom integrates a sauna and is defined through a restrained material palette of oak veneer and travertine. A freestanding vanity forms the central element of the space, while storage volumes and cabinetry are incorporated into the surrounding wall paneling to maintain spatial continuity.
Throughout the house, newly installed flooring combines oiled pine with linoleum surfaces, establishing a consistent material language across the renovated interior. The intervention by Club Marginal Architekten Studio balances restoration, spatial reconfiguration, and material integration within the framework of the historic residential structure.
the facade was restored, and new windows with modern thermal insulation properties were installed
the historic staircase has been freshly renovated
view from the hallway into the children’s room
first children’s room with a loft bed and built-in stairs
second children’s room with a loft bed and a staircase built into the furniture
children’s bathroom with built-in cabinets in bold orange
the master bedroom upstairs in the attic, featuring new flooring and built-in furniture made of oiled oak
the new master bathroom in the attic features a freestanding vanity as the focal point of the room
the surfaces are made of linoleum, travertine, and oiled oak
various storage solutions and storage space have been discreetly integrated into the oiled oak wall paneling
the freestanding vanity made of travertine and oiled oak forms the centerpiece of the parents’ retreat in the attic
project info:
name: Friedi & Hagen – Renovation of a semi-detached house in Berlin-Friedrichshagen
architect: Club Marginal Architekten | @_clubmarginal_
location: Berlin, Germany
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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