Street view of a building with a white facade and vertical windows, surrounded by trees.

A street view of a building with a white facade featuring vertical windows, surrounded by trees and a crosswalk in the foreground.

A wooden door with a chevron pattern set in a white brick wall, framed by a stone arch. The door is flanked by two potted plants and a small set of stone steps leads up to it. The number 208 is displayed on the wall.
A view of a light-colored building with a sloped roof, featuring multiple windows. In the foreground, there is a garden with various plants and a young tree. The scene is framed by a darker structure on the right.
A minimalist exterior view of a building with a light-colored brick facade and simple rectangular windows.
A lush garden with various plants and flowers in front of a light-colored building facade. A sculpture is partially visible among the greenery.
A modern building with a dark facade and a sloped roof, featuring multiple windows. It is surrounded by lush greenery and a cobblestone path leading to the entrance. An umbrella is visible in the courtyard area.
A building facade with dark timber cladding and light wooden window frames, surrounded by plants.
Aerial view of a garden area with a curved concrete path and various plants, including flowering shrubs and a tree casting a shadow.
A modern interior space featuring a dining area with a rectangular table and chairs. The room has a minimalist design with brown tiled flooring, a contemporary light fixture, and sheer curtains allowing natural light to filter in. A dark wooden wall with built-in shelving and a piece of artwork add to the sophisticated ambiance.
A modern interior space featuring a kitchen with dark cabinetry and a long countertop. The floor is covered with brown tiles, and there is a staircase with dark wood steps on the left. Natural light streams in through high windows, creating a bright atmosphere. Pendant lights hang from the ceiling, adding a contemporary touch.
A minimalist kitchen interior with dark wood cabinetry, a stainless steel countertop, and a modern faucet. Two pendant lights hang from the ceiling, and a framed artwork is mounted on the wall.
A minimalist interior space with wooden flooring, featuring a hallway with a large abstract painting on the wall. Soft lighting creates a warm atmosphere, and a glimpse of a bathtub is visible at the end of the hallway.
A modern interior space featuring a sleek, dark leather lounge chair on a wooden floor. The room has a minimalist design with a low bookshelf filled with books and a series of framed artworks on the wall. Soft lighting creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Interior view of a room with dark wood paneling, a wooden table, and a hanging light fixture. Light filters through sheer curtains, creating a warm atmosphere.
A minimalist interior view featuring a staircase with wooden steps leading upwards, partially illuminated by natural light.
A dark wooden shelving unit with decorative items, a black chair, and a tiled floor.
A top-down view of a dining area featuring a round black table with a wooden bowl on top, surrounded by brown chairs and a curved bench. The floor is covered with square tiles, and a pendant light hangs above the table.
An interior view featuring three framed artworks on a wall above a dark wooden surface. A small, abstract sculpture of a human figure stands on the surface.
A minimalist interior space featuring dark wooden walls and a small sculpture of a head on a pedestal.
A minimalist bathroom interior featuring a freestanding white bathtub with a sleek, modern faucet. The room has a neutral color palette with light walls and a framed artwork hanging on the wall. Soft natural light filters through, creating a calm atmosphere.
A view through a set of tall, white-framed windows showing a garden with greenery and a modern building in the background.
Architectural floor plans of a building showing three levels with various rooms and features.
An architectural drawing of two rectangular buildings within a courtyard. The buildings have pitched roofs and multiple windows. The layout includes a shared open space between the structures.

Story

A Dialogue Between Past and Present In the historic town of Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, Carter’s House architectural evolution. Originally a carter’s yard from the 1920s, the building has been transformed by Nidus into a harmonious ensemble that respects its layered history. The project features a shared courtyard, lush with perennials and ivy, creating a microclimate that enhances the living experience. The renovation process involved a careful peeling back of layers to reveal the building's character, shaped by decades of alterations. The lime-washed clinker façade, facing the street, exudes a quiet dignity, while the new timber courtyard house introduces a dynamic interplay of light and dark. Inside, the spatial sequence unfolds through a path that connects public and private spaces, guided by light and framed views.

## Design Highlights

Sensitive integration of historical and new architectural elements Creation of a microclimate with a shared courtyard Use of a limited material palette for spatial clarity Dramatic spatial sequence inspired by Josef Frank’s essay

## Key Facts

Key Aspect Description
Architect Nidus
Location Düsseldorf, Germany
Year Completed 2023
Original Structure 1920s carter’s yard
Key Materials Lime-washed clinker, timber, oak
Special Features Microclimate courtyard, sculptural façade

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Façade: Light lime-washed clinker façade with a cross bond pattern for new sections.
  • Interior Walls: Grey-white painted walls.
  • Flooring: Brown clay tiles on the ground floor and narrow dark-stained oak floorboards on the upper levels.

Materials

  • Brick — Exterior façade
  • Wood — Windows, interior elements, and furniture
  • Tile — Flooring

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: The building retains its historical structure with new timber elements integrated.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: light lime, dark timber, grey-white
  • Lighting: Natural light is used to create brighter and darker zones, enhancing the atmosphere.

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