A Bright Haven at the Forest's Edge
A family home nestled within nature
For this young family, their new forest-edge home offers countless moments to experience nature's changing seasons. Tall trees frame the approximately 1,250 m² property on its southern and western edges. Winter transforms the landscape—once the leaves fall, even the low winter sun floods the garden, while summer brings deer wandering right up to the fence line. The morning terrace, strategically positioned to capture the sun's daily arc, treats residents to warming rays well into midday.
Light—a defining challenge of the forest-edge location—became central to Hilger Architekten's design vision. Building regulations added another layer of complexity: only a single-storey structure was permitted in a limited zone of the property, yet the family wanted expansive living space. The property's corner access point presented a final puzzle to solve. These constraints sparked an iterative design process. "This is where the magic happens," reflects architect Jörg Hilger. "Ideas take shape, crystallize, and ultimately transform into something entirely unique." The result: a long, rectangular volume with attic and loft spaces that sidestep floor-count regulations. Clinker bricks create the façade, their projecting surfaces deepening the visual texture. The diagonal approach—visible on the site plan—flows through the house and culminates in triangular extension clad in striking colored panels, marking the garden threshold and continuing to the sunny terrace. Upstairs, a corner glazed dormer frames the surrounding woodland in spectacular fashion.
Granite flooring runs throughout the ground floor. The attic and loft—accessed via a custom-designed spiral staircase flanked by a gallery with railings and a striking illuminated wall feature—showcase premium parquet. Beyond comprehensive building automation and radiant floor heating, the home incorporates extensive security infrastructure. A south-facing photovoltaic system and geothermal heat pump complete the sustainable design.
Photography Credits:
Dirk Heine
(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 04|21)
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