A four-story villa overlooking Lake Glambeck in Neustrelitz, the former royal residence, sits just an hour from Berlin. Following its renovation, architect Christian Peters—grandson of the original builder—reimagined the 1928 structure as a Life-Phase House. The concept is elegantly simple: its modular floor plan allows the three living areas to adapt fluidly to residents' changing needs without requiring major structural interventions. As life circumstances shift, so can the configuration of this generously proportioned former two-family home.

The design strategy centers on accessing distinct apartments through two separate entries. Ground-floor residents enter directly from the front, while those in the basement and upper floors use the western side staircase. This flexible layout allows for numerous configurations—a larger ground-floor room can be split into two smaller units, or the attic studio can become two rooms with a full bath. When the staircases are consolidated and the former interior ground-floor entrance reopened, the entire home becomes seamlessly connected. This adaptability makes the villa suitable for a multigenerational family, a collective living arrangement, or up to three independent residential units. The crown jewel is the maisonette attic apartment—approximately 160 m² of light-filled space with three to four generously proportioned bedrooms, a modern bathroom, a kitchen-diner, a lake-facing balcony, and a luminous attic living area. The currently leased ground floor spans about 104 m² and features three to four period-detailed rooms, a separate kitchen-diner, and a protected loggia overlooking the lake. The basement's lakeside guest quarters—approximately 56 m² of ground-level living space—encompasses two to three rooms and a garden terrace. The ability to lease individual units unlocks financial flexibility, especially when adult children relocate for studies. The space equally accommodates home offices or professional practices. "What makes this historic property exceptional," architect Christian Peters notes, "is how its floor plans work together with the multiple building entrances. The layouts themselves are remarkably adaptable to virtually any living requirement."

www.steht-ein-haus-am-see.de

Photography:
Philipp Pechta
www.phideomedia.de

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|24)