Perched on a hilltop yet firmly rooted in its surroundings, Alexander Brenner’s latest building stands in Stuttgart. It is his private residence – an autobiography in stone, as it were. In creating it, he drew on 25 years of experience and his keen observation of nature and people. He combined all this with a bold spirit of innovation.

The ‘new Brenner’ does not reveal itself as such to the observer at first glance. The ‘Parler Research House PR39’ does not gleam with white plaster; instead, its outer shell consists mainly of pointed concrete. The geometrically shaped building is thus reminiscent of the archaic architecture of old castles and appears to have been modelled into the hillside as if for eternity. The stonemason-like chiselling of the edges and parapets conveys sculptural finesse and testifies to a high degree of precision. This is the first time Brenner has used the grey-beige Jura gravel in this scale, and he is delighted with it: “Behind the exposed concrete façade lies not conventional insulation, but a 50 cm thick layer of aerated concrete blocks, with which we achieve dream energy efficiency figures.” In the interests of sustainability, he chose only natural, untreated materials for the entire structure. Over time, concrete, wood, steel and lime plaster form a natural patina that creates an authentic living experience.

Venturing into new territory, experimenting with materials and dimensions, testing the limits of what is possible – this is what appeals to Brenner. The widely cantilevered concrete bracket, which artfully frames the view of the valley from the top floor, is a structural masterpiece that breaks with all conventions. Perforated, adjustable steel panels create a striking accent on the façade. Here, the architect has incorporated his trademark: the leopard print. Playfully adapted, it recurs time and again in his buildings. Whilst ‘House PR39’ appears rather closed off from the outside, the interior rooms, with their adjoining terraces, feel spacious and radiantly bright. Everything has been designed down to the smallest detail to create a total work of art. In the two-storey entrance hall, a beautifully formed stone staircase with a black steel handrail catches the eye. It pays homage to the great architect Carlo Scarpa and leads into the open-plan studio.

On the second floor are the bedroom, fitted with oak parquet flooring from the forests of Burgundy featuring stylish brass inlays, a dressing room and the bathroom. On the third floor is the kitchen, which the passionate cook has fitted with a copper-clad cooking island and a stainless steel worktop. The choice of materials was not a question of price, but of quality: “I prefer to do something properly once, so that I never have to change it again. For me, that is an aspect of sustainability and conserving resources.” Despite all this perfection, the rooms still radiate life and warmth. This impression is reinforced by a deliberately chosen variety of materials, figurative elements and accessories that he simply finds “beautiful”. Brenner has learnt how important it is to plan in a way that is “life-affirming and not too polished”. His architecture has long had a distinctive character. He can dare to create a counter-concept to the zeitgeist, which at the same time offers a glimpse into the future design of his studio.

www.alexanderbrenner.de

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 02|20)