Roof and drainage in perfect harmony

In Westphalia—specifically in the somewhat secluded district of Schmechten, part of the town of Brakel—a charming single-family home was recently completed. It serves as a perfect example of how elegant an aluminum standing seam roof can look when the entire roof drainage system is perfectly matched in both material and design.

This requirement meant that the roofs of the approximately 110-square-meter house had to harmonize with the relatively flat roof of the forestry equipment and vehicle shed located behind it. Due to the low roof pitch, shingles would not have been a practical roofing solution, so the roofers suggested an aluminum standing seam system installed over a fully boarded substructure.

The metalwork on the roof took just two days to complete and was carried out by Josef und Thorsten Otto GmbH & Co. KG Metallbau, Installateur- u. Heizungsbau in Steinheim. It is particularly striking that the gutters, downspouts, and water boxes are made from the same material as the roof, and are also perfectly matched in texture and color ("Hausgrau Pearls").

The house is a single-story residence consisting of two essentially identical, mirror-image structures connected by a central flat-roofed section. Architectural historians will undoubtedly be reminded of a "broken pediment," as the cleverness of this design lies in the two opposing mono-pitch roofs on the outer structures, the low slope of which was mandated by local building authorities.

This gives the house—which is not particularly large—a sense of spaciousness and elegance. All these aluminum components come from the innovative design studio haushaut in Düren near Cologne (www.haushaut.com), a company frequently recognized for its high-quality, stylish aluminum components for facades and roofs.

The owners are extremely happy in their new home and are more than satisfied with the roof design in particular.

The roofers are equally pleased.