Hanover House | Kraus Schoenberg Architects

Hanover House, image courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects

Hanover House, sketches courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects

Hanover House by Kraus Schoenberg Architects is the refurbishment and extension project on the rooftop of a Victorian warehouse building located in Bradford, United Kingdom.

The sculptural aspect of the roof silhouette is no mere architectural fancy, but reflects the roofscape of the surrounding buildings and has been used to form the living spaces.

Kraus Schoenberg Architects

+ Project description courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects

The development of the grade II listed Hanover House involves the refurbishment and roof extension of a Victorian warehouse building.

Hanover House is located in Bradford’s Little Germany, a conservation area of great historical interest and beauty. The unique character of the area is created by the uniformity of buildings, which date from the 19th century.

The used sandstone material and the ornamental treatment of the facades unify the blocks – although, as with many other semi-industrial areas from the period, the buildings in Little Germany vary in size and form. Accordingly, the roofscape is one of great diversity.

This informs the design of the new roof, which reinterprets the surrounding forms, sizes and orientations.

Hanover House, image courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects

The sculptural aspect of the roof silhouette is no mere architectural fancy, but reflects the roofscape of the surrounding buildings and has been used to form the living spaces.

Hanover House - Conceptual model, image courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects

Aiming to create a highly efficient structure, the roof has been designed as a self-supporting system to avoid additional loading onto the existing floors. We used engineered timber as a sustainable high-performance material, creating a roof surface which folds up and down and bears on the external walls.

Hanover House - Plan and section, drawing courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects

+ Project credits / data

Architect: Kraus Schoenberg Architects
Project: Hanover House
Type: Apartment building
Client: Garbe Group
Location: Bradford, United Kingdom
Date: 2005 – 2008
Construction: 11 months
Area: 1300m2
Volume: 5200m3
Ceiling heights: 2.80m – 3.20m
Value: £ 1.6 m.
Structure: EDA London
Project management:  Maber

+ All images and drawings courtesy of Kraus Schoenberg Architects