From the outset, the asdfg Architects team recognized a unique opportunity in their dialogue with the client family: to create a residential home with a truly distinctive architectural vision. Most compelling was the clients' embrace of solid wood construction—left largely unclad—where the layering and joinery of structural elements become the very essence of design.

The family made a deliberate choice, forgoing garage and carport to create an unencumbered entry. The covered passage to the rear garden became instead a generous welcome space. The open-plan ground floor radiates outward from a central core, with living areas freely arranged around it. Subtle height shifts create distinct zones with ever-changing sightlines. The expansive staircase—furnished with built-in seating and platforms—transforms into its own destination, then ascends to private family quarters above. Below, alongside utility spaces, the south-facing basement hosts a bright guest area (flooded with light through floor-to-ceiling glass and narrow light wells), a play zone, a workspace, and a "secondary living room" crowned by a generous skylight. Throughout, sustainable materials and factory prefabrication take precedence. A heat pump paired with solar panels eliminates fossil fuel dependence entirely. The reinforced concrete base anchors the timber structure above. Wood in all its manifestations guided every decision. Cross-laminated timber walls and ceilings remain unfinished—their layers and joints are the design's signature. This honesty extends to the floors, where concrete and calcium sulfate screeds remain exposed. High-traffic paths and wooden surfaces receive strategic protection through linoleum or rubber accents in carefully chosen colors. Outside, silver fir facades showcase the timber approach. The interplay of solid and open sections, horizontal and vertical battens, and posts projecting along the axes establish a rhythmic pattern—a visual language that hints at the spatial relationships hidden within.

www.asdfg.co

Living space: 225 sqm
Plot size: 950 sqm
Construction method: Solid wood construction
Energy concept: Heat pump and photovoltaic system

Photography Credits:

René Graf

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 04|22)