Life's pivotal moments often demand new spaces. For a growing family of five, one such moment sparked the "Haus Himmelberg" project into being. Years earlier, architect Andreas M. Schwickert had made a promise to his wife: "When our third child arrives, we'll build." True to his word, he designed a home that bridges classical modernism with generous, thoughtfully considered spaces.

The site—a sprawling plot at the edge of a new development—presented distinct challenges: a sloping terrain, narrow access, and an open connection to the landscape. These constraints became the creative catalyst. Schwickert's vision was clear: break up the mass, introduce lightness, and frame nature as the focal point. The result: a residence composed of three interlocking volumes. Their staggered arrangement responds to both topography and function, with surgical precision: office and services nestle into the hillside level; living and gathering occupy the ground floor; private retreat and bedrooms sit above. Steel columns cantilever the upper volume weightlessly, while a slim glazed joint separates the levels both visually and structurally—a gesture that makes the heaviest mass seem to float.

Every room follows the rhythm of daily life. The ground floor unfolds as an open expanse for cooking, dining, and living, always oriented toward the landscape beyond. Upstairs: three children's bedrooms with ensuite bath, a play zone, and a parent's sanctuary featuring sauna and wellness retreat. Thoughtful framing of views delivers uninterrupted sightlines while safeguarding privacy—floor-to-ceiling windows frame the freestanding tub, while the sauna's glass front captures panoramic vistas. Below, two home offices connect through a luminous courtyard that draws natural light deep into the building. An open stairwell crowned by a narrow skylight—its raw steel and oak treads handcrafted with precision—creates light-filled circulation even on the shaded hillside corridors. Together with the courtyard and expansive fenestration, it weaves shifting visual connections throughout.

The garden extends the house into the landscape, conceived as a natural threshold. Forward-thinking design even allows the hillside level to function as independent quarters should future needs demand it. Here, materiality transcends decoration—it's a philosophy. Hand-formed clinker, naturally finished oak, exposed concrete, raw-oiled steel for stairs and surfaces: every element speaks with authenticity. Even the aluminum windows and façade retain their metallic character through anodizing rather than powder coating. The upper floor's light-colored scratch plaster goes untreated, gaining a self-cleaning benefit in the bargain. A geothermal heat pump, heat-recovery ventilation, and a 25 kWp photovoltaic array power the home sustainably—including the hillside-integrated pool. It's the inevitable conclusion of energy-conscious design.

Bespoke built-ins and clever hidden storage throughout complete the picture. The result: an elegant, practical sanctuary for a family that thrives on gathering and celebration—a promise kept in brick, steel, and light.

www.fachwerk4.de

Photography:
Christian Eblenkamp
www.christian-eblenkamp.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 02|25)