Deep in the Bavarian Bohemian Forest Nature Park stand the iconic "Waldlerhäuser"—traditional rural dwellings characterized by their distinctively flat, elongated gabled roofs that seem to dissolve into the landscape itself. These long stone structures with timber frameworks inspired the vision behind Haus Nordlicht. Just under 20 kilometres from the Austrian-Czech border and perched at nearly 900 metres elevation near Waldkirchen, a Berlin-based couple discovered an idyllic refuge. There, amid dense woodland and open meadows, a monolithic silhouette emerges—a striking form defined by its shallow, jet-black roof that anchors itself into the terrain. Passau architect Florian Schätz, trained in Switzerland, partnered with his firm FACE to create something remarkable: a synthesis of mid-century modernism and contemporary regionalism. The result speaks for itself—an open-plan bungalow wrapped in 60-centimetre-thick concrete walls, punctuated by expansive glazing that dissolves the boundary between shelter and nature. Schätz pursues function through clarity, crafting clean geometries that simultaneously challenge and honour architectural tradition through deliberate restraint. The project's genesis reveals its poetry: the client, a former stonemason, envisioned carving his home from a single block. That dream translated into reality—a seamless, monolithic form cast as one unified gesture beneath the forest canopy. What unfolds on closer examination is a sculptural living space: 280 square metres of meticulously choreographed interiors locked in perpetual dialogue with the shifting moods of mountain climate—scorching summers and snow-laden winters. The palette was carefully considered: thermally efficient lightweight concrete infused with foam glass and natural clay, layered beneath cross-laminated timber and standing-seam metalwork. The house earns its name "Vierseithaus" (four-sided house)—distinct from the traditional "Vierseithof" courtyard—precisely because each elevation presents an entirely fresh perspective. The composition weaves together distinct elements into a coherent whole: an "Enso circle" and open pavilion crowning the ridge; a wood storage volume opposite; a generously proportioned upper gallery with panoramic views commanding the landscape like a private box at the theatre; and a fully transparent northern wall with adjoining terrace. The forest itself is far more than scenery—it's integral to the design's identity. Light filters through the dense canopy in gentle shafts, bestowing the house its name. Local spruce timber even left ghostly impressions in the concrete formwork, a tactile connection to place. Echoing the traditional "Stube" of forest homesteads, living spaces embrace the southern sun, while bedrooms, studio, and workspace occupy the quieter northeast. Schätz, who taught architecture in Singapore for fifteen years, brings Far Eastern sensibilities to FACE's work, and it shows here: an unshakeable pursuit of simplicity, a fluid balance between interior and exterior, and reverence for the natural world—experienced from all four sides. Haus Nordlicht distils these principles into architecture that speaks to something timeless, yet speaks it in distinctly contemporary terms.

www.face2050.com

Photography:

Rainer Taepper
www.rainertaepper.com

(Published in CUBE Munich 04|23)