The plot is located on the southern edge of a new development area not far from Stuttgart to the east. The new residential area is developing to the north of the town center, halfway up a sloping southern slope, with a magnificent view over the Neckar valley to the silhouette of the Swabian Alb. The new development area is characterized by predominantly banal developer architecture. The house designed by Finckh Architekten, on the other hand, is self-consciously less oriented towards the structure of the built environment and instead develops exclusively from the task and the context of the location.

The simple, clear structure is bordered by two white glazed exposed concrete gable walls, which extend from the ridge to the ground in the south. Their upper edges also serve as gutters and drain the rainwater from the south-facing roof into the garden in an open channel. Between the two defining bulkheads, the building develops like a terrace and opens up to the south with large areas of glazing. The result is sunny lounge areas with fantastic views and an intensive connection to nature. The ascending landscape is continued structurally. This open gesture towards the valley, the distance and the warming sun literally captures the energy of the place and passes it on to the residents. A place full of power!

The cubic building façades are oriented towards the built environment and are kept rather closed with few, precisely positioned and well-proportioned window openings. Both levels of the building are clearly structured in terms of their uses: The private retreat zones are arranged on the lower level, each with its own independent relationship to nature. The upper level has an almost sacred feel and accommodates the living areas. The spacious roof space with kitchen, dining area, lounge and the large roof terrace facing into the distance conveys freedom and openness.

The exposed reinforced concrete construction with core-insulated exterior walls, which are pigmented white on the outside and natural on the inside, and the thermally activated floors for heating and cooling generate a pleasant indoor climate at any time of year. High-quality, honest surfaces with pleasant tactile textures make the building unique. The sustainable building made of durable materials will give residents many decades of pleasure. In addition, solid building technology with a geothermal heat pump and the building's own electricity generation through a photovoltaic system integrated inconspicuously into the roof ensure CO₂-free, environmentally conscious and cost-effective operation.

www.finckharchitekten.de

Living space: 203 m²
Plot size: 697 m²
Construction period: 08/17-12/19
Construction method: Solid construction
Energy concept: Geothermal energy and photovoltaics

Photos:

Thomas Sixt Finckh/Finckh Architects

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 02|22)