Aretz Dürr Architektur
Haus D // 6
best architects 21 in gold
single family homes
Place
Oberberg, Germany
Studio
Photos
Luca Claußen
Description
The design task was to construct an affordable and
sustainable single-family home which seamlessly integrates the landscape into
the living space and provides covered outdoor areas for rainy summer days. As
is typical for the local Oberbergisch area, a solid plinth lifts the living
areas above the natural terrain to shield them from the weather. The direction of the cantilevered roof was determined
by the position of the sun in summer and winter. In summer, it protects the
building from overheating. In winter, the glazing allows solar energy to
penetrate into the living space and activate the night storage function of the
screed. With its low mass, the back-ventilated roof membrane facilitates heat
protection in summer while its skylights ensure efficient night-time cooling.
The interplay of light and shadow animates the roof membrane and creates a soft
surface that serves as a design link between the surrounding pastureland and
the sky. The living space in the centre of the building reaches
right up to the roof and forms the central communal area from which the
bedrooms on the upper floor are accessed. A steel walkway connects the two
separate areas and opens out onto the joint gallery. Built with limited materials using a steel and timber frame
construction, the house is reversibly joined throughout. The slim wooden beams
of the suspended ceilings and the roof remain visible and give the space its
cosy atmosphere. The result is an aesthetic reduced to the essentials in order
to achieve the best possible result.