Landscape as Design Vision
A contemporary villa perched on a hillside, engaging in dynamic dialogue with its natural surroundings
Perched on Ulm's northern edge, where the Swabian Alb descends gently toward the plains, sits a building site that offers far more than mere space for a house. The plot commands a sweeping panorama—from verdant allotment gardens and the meandering Danube to the distant Alps on clear days. This extraordinary vantage point inspired both the client family and architects Weber + Hummel to craft a "belvedere"—not simply a residence to inhabit, but a place to experience, where landscape becomes the organizing principle.
The architectural design unfolds with elegant clarity: two elongated wings embrace a pool terrace and garden. The northern wing nestles into the slope, opening generously toward the vista through expansive glazing—the house's structural and visual spine. The eastern wing, by contrast, boldly cantilevers over the terrain, its striking prow projecting without supports while shielding the private realm from neighbors' gaze. From both terrace levels, the landscape becomes theater—a daily performance of shifting light, changing weather, and breathtaking scenery.
The hillside villa comprises two living levels and two basement floors. On the ground level, interior and exterior spaces dissolve into one another with remarkable fluidity. Floor-to-ceiling glass and sliding doors spanning six meters allow living and working zones to flow seamlessly into the garden, while deep overhanging eaves provide solar shade while doubling as balconies for the upper-floor bedrooms. Here, enameled glass in soft gray tones punctuates the facade with restraint, while wooden slat cladding on the ground floor roots the structure harmoniously within its verdant setting. Both technically and architecturally, the villa embraces intelligent design: roof projections, solar-control glazing, and reflective screens ward off summer heat gain, while an integrated heating, cooling, and ventilation system maintains optimal comfort throughout the year.
Inside, refined minimalism prevails. Whitewashed oak floors and recessed built-ins amplify the sense of openness and calm, while precise detailing and strategically framed vistas continually reinforce the dialogue with landscape. The pool, too, navigates this balance—nestled away from prying eyes yet capturing the Danube's flow, it becomes the young family's son's sanctuary. Living here transforms into an ever-evolving conversation with the land, where each day brings new light, new weather, and renewed wonder.
Plot size: 1,500 m²
Construction period: 2.5 years
Construction method: Solid masonry
Energy concept: Air-water heat pump with heat recovery ventilation
Photography:
Gerd Schaller
www.bauwerk-perspektiven.de
(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 02|25)
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