New build with bright teenager’s rooms designed for daylight

Thilo and Kathi live with their three sons Malik (12), Nico (15), and Junis (19) with a breathtaking view of the Swabian Jura. They are rooted and feel comfortable. From the terraced house, which had become too small for them as a blended family, they moved into their beautiful prefabricated house with a flat-roof window extension.

"We simply needed space," Kathi explains. "The children all need their own room – and I often work from home, so I wanted my own office."

After extensive consultation, the family had their house built with three flat-roof windows and six roof windows.

Sustainable construction with timber

As detailed as the planning was, the actual construction was swift: The family was able to move into their prefabricated house after just under half a year of construction time. Now, Kathi, Thilo, Malik, Nico, and Junis have more than 130 square meters of living space plus 30 square meters in the extension at their disposal.

The Greiners' prefabricated house is built in timber frame construction, with sustainable building materials: the main building material is durable, local timber from sustainable forestry. A heat pump with 90 percent heat recovery provides heating for the home.

Already at the doorstep: A house full of daylight

Every time Kathi and Thilo enter their new build, they are overwhelmed anew:

"We have a flat-roof window right in the entrance area, and it brings in such wonderful light!" Kathi raves.

This first impression and the initial feeling when coming home are incredibly important to them. Thilo is also pleased with the decision for a flat-roof window and six roof windows in the main house.

"When the new build was complete, I was absolutely thrilled," he recounts.

"I am very glad that we decided to install this number of roof windows because it makes our house so bright – it's just beautiful, and I feel very comfortable."

When it came to roof windows, he immediately thought of VELUX during the consultation.

"We were not familiar with the flat-roof window – that was completely new to us," adds Kathi. "And the light from above just has a different effect. It's so unique for us and the result is superb."

Three bright youth rooms on their own floor

Three children in their teenage years need space – a fact that Kathi and Thilo paid special attention to when planning their prefabricated house.

"One of them is already bringing a girlfriend, so there will be four of them. There used to always be a traffic jam in the bathroom," Kathi recounts. "So it was quickly decided: The boys should have their own floor."

They now even have their own bathroom. A central aspect in the children's rooms as well: Plenty of daylight for living and learning. "We solved that perfectly with the roof windows," says Thilo.

Even for the boys' hobby, gaming, sunlight is important – but it shouldn't cause glare. "The boys need to be able to see everything when they're gaming," says Thilo. For this reason, the roof windows are equipped with blackout blinds.

Thilo is enthusiastic: "Deciding to install the roof windows in the boys' rooms was the best decision ever. They now have beautiful rooms, it's just super bright – and that's the greatest thing there is!"

Kathi values well-ventilated rooms: "When the boys get ready in the morning, they each take turns in the bathroom," she says. The shower is then in constant use, along with a lot of deodorant, lotions, perfume. "Of course, you need to ventilate." That works perfectly with the roof windows.

The children's privacy is thus ensured. And what about Thilo and Kathi? "In the extension to the prefabricated house, we have a lot of space just for us," says Kathi. "Here we can retreat. I don't notice anything from the boys and the family hustle and bustle."

Golf as a passion: Family tournament in the living room

The small, tranquil town of Nehren, where the Greiners live, was chosen deliberately. Thilo explains:

"When it came time to choose a location for our new build, the guys made it clear that they would like to stay in Nehren."

By now, he too could not imagine living anywhere else.

"We have a beautiful view of the Swabian Jura – it's simply fantastic. It's very quiet, yet we're quickly in Tübingen or Stuttgart," says Thilo.

And another place that means a lot to Thilo is also within easy reach: The golf course.

"We love playing golf passionately, and I also happen to be a golf instructor." Even closer than the golf course is the small putting green right in the living room, where the Greiners hold their "Nehren Open." "Here stands the current champion before you!" laughs Thilo. In the last tournament, there was an exciting finale against Malik, the youngest, which Thilo was able to win.

Thilo says, "We often hold our 'Nehren Open' several times a week, it's always a lot of fun."

And daylight plays a big role here too:

"Without the brightness in our living room, it just wouldn't be possible. You simply need the light for putting," says Thilo.

Living experience? Like being outdoors

Kathi and Thilo Greiner have arrived and simply feel comfortable in their bright single-family home in the countryside.

"The installation of the flat-roof windows and the roof windows has given us an enormous quality of life," says Thilo Greiner. "With the daylight, you sometimes almost have the feeling that you are standing outdoors."

And Kathi adds:

“If we were to build again, we would definitely want to have as much daylight as possible. If there were the possibility, we would even install one or two more flat-roof windows or skylights. Because the living atmosphere is simply superb.“