A couple living in a rural setting take the security of nature literally. Their special way of living makes them a part of it. While others often imagine their home as being shielded in a cocoon, this futuristic-looking home cannot be open enough. The conditions for always being as close to nature as possible are in place: The plot is situated on a slope and offers a fantastic view of the valley. To ensure that this view is not obstructed, the large glass fronts had to look like glass walls and do without supporting pillars. A tricky task that challenged the structural engineers and, above all, the manufacturer of movable window and façade solutions.

The house on the hillside, designed by Habermann Decker Architekten from Lemgo, extends over two floors. Actually. Because the lower area plays a rather subordinate role. Life takes place entirely on the upper level. In the entrance area, the cubic building still appears compact, but when you climb the stairs, pure openness is revealed. The living area extends over the entire level: kitchen and dining area, living room and - once around the corner next to the stairs - the work and sleeping area as well as the only door leading to the toilet. Everything seems to merge with nature through the glass front.

This impression is underlined by the minimalist furnishings. Handleless cupboards cover the full width of the wall on three sides, making them invisible to a certain extent. Facing the approximately eight-metre-wide glass front is an anthracite-colored sofa which, thanks to the castors on which it stands, occasionally moves onto the spacious balcony with its glass balustrade. The glass front consists of two folding glass walls - one with three and one with five elements, which are connected to each other and can be quickly folded out to the left and right. Sliding windows would have been an alternative, but such a window could only have been pushed to the side up to a certain point. This would have left too much glass in the room. The clients were so impressed with the maximum solution that they had the concept installed in their sleeping area. In this part of the room, the two folding glass walls run generously along two sides, forming a right angle. It was important to the couple that no corner posts disturbed the feeling of freedom that immediately arises when the glass façade is folded away at the sides.

Implementing this was a tricky task in terms of statics alone. But it was worth it: the homeowner pushes the two glass walls aside, steps over the threshold-free rail onto the terrace - and then really is standing in the middle of nature. Only a narrow pillar supports the projecting flat roof further back at the edge.

In addition to the visual advantages, there are also very practical ones: the glass fronts can be closed within a minute and, thanks to their good insulating properties and high tightness, keep the heat in the room in cooler temperatures. And in summer? Everything is open either way, according to the wishes of the satisfied residents.

www.solarlux.com
www.habermann-decker.de

Photos:

Solarlux

(Published in CUBE Ruhr Area 02|22)