Like a holiday – All year round

A traditional sauna complex? That’s exactly what one couple from Leipzig didn’t want. So without further ado, they declared the entire semi-basement of their charming old villa the grounds for their new spa, and got to work converting it accordingly. The result is a fantastic interplay of two different styles – and a truly stunning aesthetic.

The building is surprising in two ways. Firstly, it radiates the charm of a grand old villa from the time the area was first settled: a cream-white facade, red roof and matching brick elements, with a liberal sprinkling of balconies, chimneys and bays. It is very much a beautiful old building in its own right – and the more time you spend looking at it, the more there is to discover. Secondly, its bottom floor has been fully renovated and a new extension added: a modern, all-glass spa oasis, complete with deckchairs to relax in, an outdoor hearth, and a large swimming pool. The once dark basement and cool storage cellar have now made way for a living space that opens up to embrace the great outdoors, letting light and life flood into the couple’s home.

“We didn’t want a normal sauna area,” says owner Kerstin Baldauf, explaining the story behind the glazed extension. The couple wanted the different areas to flow into one another seamlessly. From an aesthetic point of view, everything has been stripped down to the bare essentials, giving the area a spacious, expansive and yet simple effect. This is mainly thanks to the multiple cero sliding windows used for the glazing, which were provided by Solarlux of Melle, Germany and contrast strikingly with the “traditional” facade of the building’s upper floors.
 

Slender profiles to let in plenty of sunlight – even when they’re closed, the sliding windows offer an incredible view of the outdoors. And despite weighing several hundred kilograms, they are easy to move, gliding quietly along their stainless steel running tracks. Another feature that makes the extension stand out is the way that two cero elements join together at a right angle at one point of the design. When these two sliding windows are both open, there is no step blocking the path to the garden. 

The generously proportioned, thermally insulated glazing provides a seamless, accessible transition into the garden. And the whole renovation just goes to show how well traditional, playful old buildings and modern, cubic extensions can complement one another. “The conversion has enriched our day-to-day life on a fundamental level,” the owner says, looking back. Now, she and her partner can save themselves the trip to a luxury pool elsewhere. They’ve got all the swimming and relaxation opportunities they need in their own spa oasis – with a great view of their natural surroundings to boot. It’s just like a holiday – 365 days a year.