Situated in a mature residential neighborhood of modest single-family and row houses—predominantly from the 1930s—this north-facing plot stretches toward the south. The development plan imposed strict constraints on the new home's design: adherence to the eastern boundary line, minimum setback from the western neighbor, a roof pitch of 48 to 50°, and an eaves height of 4.50 m on the street-facing side all required careful consideration.

Urs Lotz of architekturlabor made ground-level access the foundation of his design strategy. Within the prescribed eaves height, he achieved two full residential floors and an attic story. A modest extension houses the entry. Generously glazed walls on the south side flood the living spaces with garden views. Strategically positioned openings on the north side bring daylight to secondary rooms and the circulation areas. Rather than compromise the home's clean, geometric form with dormers, corner glazing extends seamlessly from the façade into the roof plane, bathing the upper-floor bedrooms in light. In keeping with this restrained aesthetic, roof overhangs, external gutters, and downpipes are eliminated entirely. A unified grey palette—applied to façade, roof, and fenestration—reinforces the home's cubic geometry while allowing it to settle naturally into its context without sacrificing individual character. This clarity extends throughout the interior: white-painted walls, classic oak flooring, and polished dark screed in entry and kitchen areas create a refined backdrop. The ground floor's rough-sawn board ceiling provides textural contrast to the finely finished walls above. Strategically placed ceiling openings and vertical air spaces connect all three floors and draw abundant daylight deep into the home. Generous floor-to-ceiling heights of 2.60 m and 2.70 m, combined with full-height doors, amplify the sense of spaciousness. An air-source heat pump provides heating for radiant floor systems and domestic hot water.

www.architekturlabor.net

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 01|21)