Whether we call a space "generous" or "compact" always depends on context. Over a thousand square metres may feel spacious for a residential home, yet modest for a field. The same principle applies to living areas. To maximize both the plot and living space, Bünck Architektur designed a home that breaks through single-storey constraints with a staggered upper floor, while flexible zoning preserves the sense of openness throughout.

The 360 m² of living space flows across three levels: the staggered upper floor containing bedrooms and bathrooms, a guest area in the lower level, and seamlessly connected rooms on the ground floor. Here, a centrally positioned fireplace anchors the living and dining zones. The cantilevered staircase performs double duty—dividing and unifying simultaneously. Open risers and a glass rail make it a light, transparent threshold between the entrance with its coat room and the main living areas. Pocket doors—recessed discreetly within the walls—allow the kitchen to transform into a separate room when needed, creating a visual and acoustic separation from the hallway and dining space. Floor-to-ceiling windows are softened by grey, semi-transparent curtains that echo the interior's sophisticated palette of dark, warm tones. Oak flooring and grey porcelain complete the scheme in the bathrooms, paired with grey window frames and chalk-white textured plaster walls. The architect designed custom built-ins for the kitchen, dressing room, and entrance storage in smoked oak—expertly crafted by the carpentry team. A tailored lighting design brings the spaces to life.

Outdoor living extends far beyond the staggered floor's generous terrace. Landscape design was integral to the overall concept, treating the secluded 1,389 m² plot as part of the home itself. A private drive winds through gardens that feel like a park—carefully oriented to frame the living spaces beyond. An elegant lap pool invites both leisurely swims and active play. This seamless integration of interior and landscape creates a unified whole—not merely in layout, but in the very experience of the home.

www.buenck-architektur.de

Photography Credits:

Carsten Bünck

(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 02|22)