White is More than White

In contrast to "Haus Harnischmacher I", built in 1932 and destroyed in 1945, which Breuer had developed as a didactic object to demonstrate classic modernity (and quickly brought about an international reputation for himself), the architect, who had been living and developing his work in the US since 1937, planned a villa for harmonious integration into the rural environment.

The natural support wall, ceiling-high paneling of the fireplace featuring shell limestone, rectangles that reflect the footprint or the clever positioning of visual contrasts – a wall of crushed stone opposite the glass entrance or a dark blue wall at the end of the hallway with white walls.

And, of course, also the conveniences Breuer had discovered in the new world that he now integrated into the building in his former hometown: heated walls and ceilings, an approximately 20 cm thick beam running below the ceiling through all south-facing rooms featuring light bulbs (now with LEDs) to provide rooms with indirect lighting and the previously mentioned fireplace, reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's fireplace, as the core of the home.

For the sliding windows Breuer developed a design consisting of U-shaped profiles which guide the pane onto a ball-bearing rail at the bottom and a groove at the top. Thick frames are thus prevented and the impression of the window strip is not affected.

All these features have been restored to their original condition. Schreiber had aluminum windows, fitted in 1982, replaced with wooden window frames. Single glazing was replaced by double or even triple insulation glazing. Insulation was a challenge and as a result of the heated walls it had to be installed on the outside. Schreiber used the fact that the original render on outside walls was 7 cm thick to his own advantage.

He had the render removed and replaced it by 8 cm thick PU insulation and applied a fine-grained finishing render that was felted in a final step.

This is how the slim proportions, a paramount element for architects, were almost fully preserved. Prior to refurbishment the annual fuel oil consumption totaled around 11,000 liters and now energy costs have been cut to a feasible limit. In this context, oil and gas have been replaced by an almost invisible solar power system on the densely insulated roof. The footprint has been retained, merely the library has been transformed into a children's room and the maid's room has been turned into a walk-in wardrobe.