Dr. Stefan Ulrich is the head of the Lower Heritage Protection Authority in Neustadt an der Weinstraße and thus watches over the historical heritage of the historic wine-growing town. The city is characterized in particular by a unique collection of half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages to modern times in the Palatinate. Dr. Ulrich's own house is also a half-timbered building, which he dedicated himself to renovating with expertise and passion. ”The house sets the direction” he told me. It is a three-story half-timbered house with a small floor area, which was built in 1580. The ground floor was renovated around 1880, so the preservationist decided to revive this area in the style of historicism.
In the founding period around 1880, cement tiles were in vogue. They were therefore the ideal choice for the hallway in the entrance. While complex multi-coloured patterns with opulent borders were often laid in magnificent city villas, the character of this simple farmhouse required a different design. The preservationist therefore chose a two-tone pattern which, as usual in historicism, takes up a classic motif; in this case, the installation of octagonal tiles with square inlays.
The pattern is sold by Mosáico with the number 115 and is available in various sizes. These are 15 x 15 cm tiles in the colors ivory (M02) and Bordeaux (M13). These colors were also specified by the house. They match traditional earth colors, with the reddish brown hue taking up the color of the wood paneling again. The pattern impresses with its simple elegance and stands for authenticity. This is what the entrance could have looked like after the 1880 renovation. The landlady said, Thanks to the tiles, the hallway is the most beautiful room in the whole house.
The further walk through the house is like a journey back in time, as the Renaissance reigns on the upper floors. After the restoration, the “good living room” on the first floor features pine floorboards.