The clients—a family of four—envisioned a home that would marry contemporary spatial design with a bold, minimalist aesthetic anchored by a flat roof. Their goal was clear: create something that honors the ancient oaks dotting their expansive woodland property while maintaining its own distinct architectural voice. The homeowner herself is an architect with exacting standards and a deep appreciation for timeless design. Having encountered Gnosa Architects' work in publications, she knew they were the right fit. The result is a study in disciplined minimalism: every element serves a purpose, yet nothing feels austere. The architects masterfully balanced two seemingly opposing demands—generous, thoughtfully proportioned glazing and complete privacy—through a sophisticated cubic composition of the upper floors. This interplay of mass and transparency allows the home to nestle seamlessly into its wooded setting. The floor plan reflects a clear functional hierarchy: living spaces below, private quarters above. The ground floor unfolds as the home's social heart—entrance, cloakroom, guest and work zones flowing naturally into an expansive open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls dissolve the boundary between interior and garden, offering unobstructed vistas of those magnificent 200-year-old oaks. The result is light-filled, genuinely spacious rooms. Upstairs, a single flight of stairs leads to the family's private retreat. Here, an ingenious eight-meter custom wall—part seating niche, part storage—transforms the hallway into a welcoming gathering spot. The master suite commands its own generous glazing, opening onto a roof terrace cradled by the canopy above.

Thoughtful spatial planning ensures daylight penetrates every corner throughout the day. Full-height sliding doors create flowing, adaptable spaces with genuine generosity of proportion. Storage ingeniously vanishes behind matching floor-to-ceiling panels. Deep-set seating alcoves framed in pale oak punctuate the hallway with warmth and livability. The restrained palette—exposed concrete and natural oak inside, paired with anthracite aluminum frames and dark clinker brick outside—creates a striking counterpoint to the architectural eclecticism of the surrounding neighborhood.

www.gnosa-architekten.de

Photography:

Stefan Trocha
www.stefantrocha.com

(From CUBE Hamburg 04|23)