On a lakeside plot, around 40 minutes from Berlin, the clients wanted a ‘hideaway’ for weekends and holidays in the countryside. They commissioned TKEZ Architekten to design and build an unconventional and sustainable building that would blend into the stunning surroundings, with their mature trees and proximity to the lake. The central aim was to adopt a minimally invasive approach to construction: to interfere with nature as little as possible at the site.

On the spacious 3,800 m² plot, a two-storey house with an impressive living area of 220 m² was completed after just one year of planning and construction, thanks to prefabrication – so spacious that even large parties with friends can be held here. The gentle slope offers a fascinating view of the lake, whilst a pine forest surrounds the house protectively and, thanks to anthracite-coloured timber cladding, it is barely visible from the lake. Large windows have been incorporated on the lake-facing side, along with floor-to-ceiling sliding windows on the ground floor. A wide, wraparound terrace is perfect for sunbathing and unwinding from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, peace and quiet reign, allowing you to slow down and relax. The front of the house, by contrast, has a more closed-off appearance. The entrance and just a few staggered windows are situated here on the north side. Together with the vertical cladding of dark wood and the few window openings that appear as if punched out, the building has a very purist appearance. This impression is reinforced by the absence of roof overhangs, which were deliberately avoided so that rainwater is drained away internally and the monolithic character is emphasised. When the windows are closed, the building appears as a sculptural wooden object in the landscape.

TKEZ Architects incorporated a key, albeit barely noticeable, feature into the design of the building’s form: a subtle vertical twist in the structure – less of an angle than a gentle curve, which gives the house its distinctive character, the icing on the cake, so to speak. In keeping with its use as a weekend home, the fittings and finishes were chosen to be robust and low-maintenance. The house has been designed and constructed entirely from timber. The energy supply via a groundwater heat pump and the feed-in of solar energy via the solar panels on the roof also adhere to the principle of sustainability. However, this does not mean that the interior is understated. A spacious kitchen island creates space for socialising, whilst understated yet tasteful furnishings invite you to relax.

www.tkezarchitekten.com

Photos:
Felix Loechner
www.sichtkreis.com

(Published in CUBE Berlin 01|26)