Life is good in the south-west of Munich, in the independent municipality of Gräfelfing: you can be in the heart of the city in no time at all, whilst the area – characterised by neighbourhoods of detached houses – offers a peaceful residential environment. Nestled within one of these typical local neighbourhoods, Schindhelm Architekten from Munich have designed a new family home using timber-frame construction.

The new building sits on a gentle slope and appears as two halves of a house pushed together: a larger, square ‘main house’ is complemented by a narrower, projecting ‘porch’. The two structures blend sculpturally into the sloping site. With sloping, offset gable roofs and silver-grey timber cladding, the overall impression is one of ‘cosiness’ – if this somewhat outdated word may be used here to denote warmth, comfort and a welcoming atmosphere. Nestled within a naturally left garden, the result is a green-and-brown idyll. The ecological concept of timber-frame construction – essentially a modern interpretation of traditional half-timbered houses – is characterised by the fact that the spaces between the timbers are not bricked up but filled with insulation material. This creates a calm, unobtrusive atmosphere that continues inside: here too, natural materials such as wood dominate, complemented by occasional accents of natural stone.

A centrally located staircase forms the heart of the house. Typical rooms are arranged around this core, varying from floor to floor. The open-plan layout on the ground floor allows for the desired arrangement of the kitchen, dining area and living space, perfect for relaxing, spending time together or reading. Custom-designed individual pieces of furniture combine functionality with distinctive design throughout the house. The interior concept logically extends the exterior appearance into the interior as a harmonious interplay: the open-plan living area ensures a seamless connection to the garden thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass doors. It is also intended that each family member can create their own individual zone on the upper floor according to their own needs. Under the sloping roof, there is space for a music room and a home office. Cut into the gable is a spot in the sun – a roof terrace creates a connection to the outdoors.

From a technical perspective, the design capitalises on the energy-saving benefits of a highly insulated timber structure. Wood’s low thermal conductivity ensures excellent thermal insulation and minimises the heating load in winter whilst keeping interiors cooler in summer. The highly efficient building envelope enables low energy consumption and, in combination with the moisture-regulating properties of this natural building material, creates a particularly healthy indoor climate.

www.schindhelmarchitekten.de

Photos:
Andreas Hoernisch
www.andreashoernisch.com

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|26)