Nestled amongst old pre-war Berlin buildings, an elegant new brick-built house has taken its place on a narrow plot. Not far from the Kleiner Wannsee, this four-storey building – narrow and tall, almost tower-like – stands out in the neighbourhood thanks to its elegant appearance. The dark brickwork appears almost speckled with purple, as different shades of brick blend together. The garden’s planting of blue-violet flowers further enhances this colour impression. With its pointed gable roof, the house faces the street with its gable end. The plot slopes gently upwards, so that the ground floor is half-buried into the slope. The house serves a dual purpose as both a workplace and a home for its owners, covering an area of around 300 m². From here, one can quickly reach the water’s edge and the countryside, which further enhances the location.
 
The underfloor heating installed in the house is powered by an air-source heat pump, enabling the house to achieve KfW Efficiency House 55 status. Added to this are the highly thermally insulated brickwork and triple-glazed panoramic windows, which help regulate the house’s climate – in other words, in winter the building envelope retains heat and in summer it keeps the rooms cool. Precisely fitted corner windows expand the view and allow light to flood into the interior. The other large aluminium windows can be opened and adjusted individually. There is a single small balcony on the upper floor.

High-quality materials have also been used throughout the interior. The doors are slim and tall, blending seamlessly with the building’s structure. The floors are laid with wide, oiled oak planks, and the largely open-plan layouts give the rooms a spacious feel. Floor-level, tiled showers with high-quality sanitary fittings serve as wellness oases. State-of-the-art smart home requirements are also met thanks to multimedia connections. A lovingly landscaped terraced garden completes the ensemble.

www.gnaedinger-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Denis Esakov
www.denisesakov.com
Alexander Papadimmitriou

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|22)