1 half-timbered house, 3 kitchens – working and living under one roof

Not far from the Kurpark of Bad Oeynhausen, the Architektur Büro Bökamp is located in a timber-framed house that is over 200 years old. The picturesque building was fundamentally renovated in 2013 and houses, in addition to the Architektur Büro, a practice for naturopathy and physiotherapy, the private living space of the Bökamp family and - three Nolte Küchen. Learn more about the renovation of the timber-framed house, the planning of the kitchens and tips from experts on the subject of home construction in the following interview:

What attracted you to move the architectural office into the half-timbered house?
The unfinished area in the attic offered us the freedom to design and customize everything according to our personal preferences and precisely tailor the spatial layout to our needs. Furthermore, our hearts beat for heritage-protected buildings and their history. Just like our company history: Karl Ottensmeyer, descendant of an established Westphalian farming family, became an architect instead of a farmer and founded the office known today as Architekten Bökamp over 70 years ago. For us, moving into the farmhouse in spring 2020 felt like a "back to the roots" experience.

Why was the attic renovated only in 2019 and not in 2014 like the rest?
In retrospect, it was a good decision. At that time, it was simply a matter of finances, although the possible use was legally secured already back then, originally however as a potential residential use, not commercial. Another decisive factor was that the interior finishing of the attic was not tax-advantaged in terms of financed resources and there was no monument preservation tax deduction available.

Which historical details have been preserved in the half-timbered house?
Essentially, the facade with its timber framing, the window placement, including those of the solid annex especially on the west side, but also on the south and east sides, have been retained; this means they were all restored according to the original.
Inside, particularly the "Deele" area in wooden look remains completely historically authentic, except for the floor, which originally was paved directly on the ground with no base slab. Also, the historical paving stones featuring tracks from agricultural use (wheel grooves from horse-drawn wagons, etc.) were cleaned and reused in the outdoor area. The same applies to the old sandstone troughs originally used as feeding containers, which found their new purpose as flower boxes outside. The layout of the rooms in the solid annex remains nearly unchanged, only the functions of the rooms have been altered.

3 kitchens including a kitchenette, a two-row kitchen and a kitchen with island. Why did you choose three different layouts?
We experience almost daily in our work that every kitchen has different requirements and must be adapted to local conditions. This was of course the case for us as well. The kitchenette simply fits optimally into our office space in terms of size. The two-row one is used by our employees and us as an office communal kitchen and therefore required slightly more space and equipment than the kitchenette directly in the office. In the private house, we decided on a kitchen island with a gas stove and large extractor hood, as well as a high table for quick breakfasts.

Why did you choose handleless fronts?
We love clear shapes and clean lines— sometimes less is more.

What is important when equipping an office kitchen or what do employees need for their daily work?
A large fridge was especially important to us. This way, it's possible to cook something yourself during lunch break. Sometimes we also organize "Bottlepartys". Everyone brings something along, and the leftovers can then be eaten the next day. Naturally, a large fridge is great for this purpose as well. In addition, large compartments for frozen foods and ice were also important to us. Besides the points mentioned, it's also important to store everyday items. On the top floor, for example, we achieve this with tall cupboards. This way, everything has its place, and can be stored conveniently and securely inside the cabinets.

Particular attention in the design is paid to movement areas and functions around and within the furniture. For example, if I wish to entertain guests, I should have good access to the table from at least 3 sides in order to offer hospitality and service without creating a feeling of "tightness".
The arrangement of the refrigerator, pans and dishes seems obvious, but should be carefully chosen and defined. It must be understood that size is not everything, but rather a clever arrangement with appropriate quality.
The integration of a utility room – in new buildings often as a replacement for the cellar – adjacent to the kitchen and ideally also arranged "weatherproof" to the garage/carport is a daily help. Storage is no longer the key issue, as today we mostly buy everything quickly and freshly when needed.
Besides the arrangement of home technology, however, issues like laundry and household chores are accommodated and also illuminated in this room right down to the small tool cupboard, unlike previously in the dark basement.
Spaces for tall cabinets create room for things we need but not necessarily in daily life, such as Christmas decorations and wrapping paper. Finally, a personal thesis – our kitchens are getting bigger, but cooking often happens less frequently. The shared option to use the kitchen more regularly again, with friends, children, or even small private cooking events, may certainly be celebrated in newly designed kitchens and rooms. It is important to consider good and effective extraction, from our point of view more effective than recirculation, and to take this into account early when required.
Because all of the thoughts mentioned above only truly come full circle when life, feelings and taste are celebrated, and when the central area becomes an area of enjoyment, celebration or relaxation, and when time is given to these moments and spaces.
You should have a look at the model kitchens in showrooms to gain inspiration for your own kitchen. We recommend our customers to engage with the kitchen topic at an early stage. Before commencing construction, a coordinated kitchen plan should be ready. Power sockets, technical equipment, possibly required room heights and conduit routing represent a minimum of coordination, even though the final decision about the kitchen front does not necessarily have to be made yet.