Regensburg-based Fabi Architects call this project "Framed" – a detached house in Traunstein that plays with the concept of framing in multiple ways. From the south, the home's upper level is wrapped in wooden slats. Inside, the windows and their deep wooden frames and generous sills transform views of the surrounding landscape into living artwork. The architects' philosophy is clear: design highly personalized solutions that respond to their inhabitants' needs while respecting human scale and the landscape's character. This four-family home sits on a hillside plot (854 m²) at Traunstein's southern edge, nestled in the Chiemgau's stunning pre-Alpine landscape. The design challenge was significant – creating a home that harmonizes sensitively with its surroundings while treading lightly on the land. The structure combines highly insulated brick with a ventilated wooden façade. Its material expression is deliberately layered: the upper volume's wood cladding echoes the region's traditional timber-clad homes, while the ground floor nestles into the slope. Two terraced levels – an east-facing wooden terrace for morning sun and a south-facing elongated balcony – step gracefully toward the garden through an external staircase. The upper floor serves as entrance and living space. Approached from the north via the street, it emerges as a spacious, airy timber-clad gable structure that cantilevers over the garden level below. The gentle roof pitch seems almost to dissolve, depending on your vantage point. Here, the home opens toward the Kampenwand and Chiemgau Alps, drawing the landscape inward through strategically placed windows. A cantilevered loggia section amplifies this effect – its floating quality makes the vista feel even more present. The lower garden level, tucked into the slope, houses the private spaces: bedrooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms, and service areas. A single-flight staircase ascending the full height admits daylight via a central void, while concrete treads paired with a metal rail provide clean architectural lines. The recessed ground floor – rendered in dark grey – creates a calm, sheltered backdrop for the garden terrace and acts as a visual pedestal for the upper level. Climate-friendly building is no longer a future vision – it's industry standard. Fabi Architects pioneered this approach with their 2009 "House of the Future," establishing the criteria they apply today. "Framed" achieves Kfw-55 energy efficiency through an air-source heat pump supplemented by a gas condensing boiler for below-freezing conditions. Building systems are discreetly housed beneath the garage.

www.fabi-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Herbert Stolz
www.herbert-stolz.de

(Published in CUBE Magazine Munich 02|23)