The Miller family had lived in a 19th century villa for more than a decade, but historic protection limited their ability to adapt the house to modern living. Their life experiences of growing up in the USA and Germany and studying in Cambridge led to the dream of creating a significant family home that combines both classical and modern architecture styles.
The Journey
Cat and her husband started looking for a new home in a desirable area of central Germany, Hessen, to accommodate the whole family, many of whom come from abroad. At the end of 2018, they found the perfect location, but the layout of the existing house was not good. “We fell in love with the location. Nothing can be built behind it as there is a little valley with a hill.”
They already had experience of extensive house renovations. The next step was to build their own home in this magical location. Finding an architect to design their home proved to be a challenge. Cat explains: "I would show pictures from England or America and say I wanted a modern interpretation of classical designs. Nobody really wanted to do that. Many architects had their own ideas and wanted to realise ‘their ideas’ or ‘their dreams’. We wanted to realise ‘our dream’. WeberHaus delivered ‘our dream’. Additionally, we would have needed an interior designer and a building company.”
This made the idea of a fully managed turnkey kit house more appealing to them. “One reliable publication voted WeberHaus number one. I could see from the style that they looked different from traditional buildings. I came across WeberHaus' UK website and thought to myself, if this company can build my dream house in England, surely, they can do the same in Germany,” Cat says.
The design process
Cat was born and raised in Connecticut,
which is known for its English architectural influences and Saltbox timber frame houses. She had set her mind on a similar design for their new house. Fortunately, the couple were able to articulate their idea to WeberHaus architect, Mr Rosseck. Planning restrictions meant that from the street, the house needed to respect the neighbourhood in relation to height and position. As the plot slopes downward to the rear, additional living space could be built below street level.
The street view is fitting for a grand period villa typical of the area. "We liked the idea of having a traditional street view and something a little more modern and extravagant at the back, while keeping classical lines. Mr Rosseck and I made a good team. We planned the size so that everything we wanted would fit. We thought a lot about the function of the rooms. We did not want a house that was big for the sake of being big, each room needed a purpose,” Cat confirms.
Having worked together on previous projects with interior design firm Villa Projects, they travelled to the WeberHaus design centre, the World of Living in Rheinau-Linx. The brief was to find the right balance of interior proportions and materials.
The construction
In 2022, the ground works were completed, and construction began. The prefabricated elements arrived on a lorry and were assembled and made watertight in a matter of days.
Cat takes up the story: “It was so quick, and everything went smoothly. The shell was up in four days, and we needed another six months to complete the internal fit out because of the size and the amount of customisation. WeberHaus’ separate carpentry firm created the highly bespoke joinery required. Our house is as individual as it gets. The whole process took just two years, from the purchase of the property to moving in. There are people on the street who started three years before us and were still building when we finished. The construction process was so fast.”
The house
The couple have family from all over the world and felt that everyone needed their own space. To one side is the cottage, providing privacy, while the ground floor guest room is in the centre of the house. Some doors are widened and the house has a lift shaft making it suitable for older age residence. Upon entering the front door with its Georgian inspired portico, the occupant is greeted by a double height entrance hall and a long island staircase leading to the open first floor landing.
Looking to the rear of the house, a bright open plan living space opens up - the family's vision of classical and modern. Living, dining and cooking areas are connected by floor-to-ceiling glass, leading to terraces overlooking the gardens. One wing houses the winter garden. The other is a library with panelled ceilings and bespoke interconnecting shelving. The children’s bedrooms are on the lower ground floor. These have direct access to the gardens and the outdoor pool. Cat adds: "Our kids are grown up now, so they have their own hideaway downstairs.” At the rear are storage and plant rooms. The master bedroom is on the first floor, along with a bathroom and a guest room. The protruding wings at the rear of the house allow the creation of two loggias, covered external galleries, which have created a real sense of privacy.
Sustainability
The sustainability of a WeberHaus was important to the family, and that the wood for their ÖvoNatur Therm building envelope was sourced from responsibly managed German forests. In addition, the family chose to install PV panels on the roof, an MVHR system, heat pump and an intelligent building management system to minimise energy consumption.
A conscious living experience
"After moving in, I was amazed at the size and beauty of the house. There is nothing I would change, even now. I love living here so much. Despite its size, the house feels homely and comfortable," Cat says. The couple mentioned that they particularly enjoyed the process, the correspondence and the transparency they received from the WeberHaus team, and that they always knew what they were signing up for, which is quite rare in the building industry. Cat's husband recognises that they have the best customer service and are happy to be living in an energy efficient home.
