A House of "Wood Concrete"
A striking new build that marries efficient living with everyday practicality
"Wood concrete" – a term coined by the architect to define his new project, where wood and concrete take center stage. The clients, a young family, approached the Schildhammer architectural firm in Passau with a clear vision: a home that feels personal and substantial, generously proportioned yet intimate. Their priorities were equally specific: bright, warm, and inviting, with genuinely open-plan living. And they wanted exposed concrete. "It's simply what I love," the homeowner notes without apology. No small order. Yet the result speaks for itself, delighting both the owners and the architect alike. The upper floor, gently cantilevered, appears to hover above the robust mass of the ground floor. The sloped terrain – just 620 m² – presented its own set of constraints. The new structure fit into a mere 7.6-meter width. The solutions developed to address these spatial challenges are elegant: concrete walls on the ground floor featuring raw concrete finishes in the living areas, paired with solid timber exterior walls on the upper level – insulated and finished in warm brown tones. The exposed concrete interiors harmonize beautifully with the brown furnishings, while all other wall and ceiling surfaces are painted in "Aesthetic Concrete Grey No. 4." The garage faces southwest, so converting its roof into a terrace – and extending the living footprint – was a natural move. For the garden, the family opted for a planted landscape with an apple tree rather than a pool – a decision that likely brought visible relief to the design team. The use of solid wood elements sourced from local forests for the exterior walls and roof is particularly noteworthy. The ground floor also features darkly oiled ash wood paneling that frames the floor-to-ceiling windows in refined detail. A heat pump, a discreetly positioned photovoltaic system, and an extensive green roof – the most cost-effective cooling strategy for summer months – complete the energy concept. Wish list: checked off. This is an exceptionally successful home: thoughtfully planned, environmentally responsible, and eminently livable. Even better, it came in on budget.
Photography:
Manuel Kreuzer
www.manuelkreuzer.de
(Published in CUBE Munich 04|24)
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