Open Living, Transparent Design
Eight wall planes orchestrate an entirely new spatial arrangement.
A 1960s residential home on a tree-studded plot along Lake Wannsee receives a thoughtful extension—an open, flexible addition that introduces three new living zones and a serene patio. The architects behind this project are Fakt, a young practice founded in Berlin in 2013 by planners who first connected at ETH Zurich and TU Berlin. The expansion leverages a minimalist strategy: eight slender wall panels serve as both spatial dividers and structural elements. These planes orchestrate the open-plan rooms, creating distinct zones without heavy walls—functioning as screens, privacy dividers, and room separators all at once. They also carry the weight of the flat roof, which rests exclusively on these eight metal discs, each just 5 cm thick. Clad in subtly reflective anodised aluminium, the steel profiles achieve a refined lightness. As the architects note, "different spatial situations emerge within a compact footprint through economical means." Three interior areas flow openly into one another and toward the garden, creating a pavilion-like extension that gracefully captures the garden's essence. The result is a fluid lifestyle—diverse sightlines and open living under a generous ceiling plane.
The new pavilion, wrapped in continuous glazing with operable glass panels that glide as doors, dissolves the boundary between house and garden. A white exposed-concrete terrace extends the dwelling into the landscape, establishing a generous west-facing gathering space. The patio, centred around an existing courtyard tree, offers a more intimate retreat. The clients envisioned adaptable work and living zones—now arranged as a fluid sequence of flexible rooms. Inside, a pale magnesite screed flooring delivers durability without cement. Power arrives via floor outlets, while optional curtains around the perimeter ensure privacy when needed. Both the flooring and metal planes feature gently reflective finishes that quietly mirror the day's changing light and the garden's colours, drawing the exterior mood softly into the interior.
Photography Credits:
Simon Menges
www.simonmenges.com
(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|21)
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