New meets old, rural embraces urban—all set within the idyllic landscape of Bavaria's Alpine foothills. On the outskirts of Tabing, a small Upper Bavarian village just five kilometres from Lake Chiemsee, the Schmidhuber holiday home represents the sustainable future that has already arrived. This wood-clad residence showcases purist architecture at its finest, nestled among a traditional orchard planted with apple trees, currant bushes, and an herb garden. It offers two exceptional holiday apartments, each accommodating four guests. Alongside stands the Schmidhuberhof—a farmstead first documented in 1507—home to the owners: graphic designer Daniela Niederbuchner and painter-restorer Christian Bauer, along with their two children. The former cattle barn now houses both a restoration studio and graphic design office.

Where an old tractor garage once stood now sits a passive house, built by specialists from Lebensraum Holz in Bad Aibling. With its timber cladding and straightforward geometric form, architect Hubert Steinsailer's Schmidhuber house evokes a barn's rural simplicity. Step inside, though, and you discover something entirely different: refined materials, luminous interiors, design classics—and generous space. Each of the two apartments spans 82 m² and provides everything needed for comfortable living: a spacious living-dining area, two bedrooms, a bathroom with rainfall shower and tub, and a large covered loggia. "We were meticulous about selecting ecologically sound building materials," the owners explain. "The façade and interior elements feature regional silver fir—a thoughtful choice." The same care extended to furnishings: "Custom-made pieces in wood and iron, paired with mid-century accents, design classics, and local antiques, create a distinctly personal atmosphere." Floor-to-ceiling windows frame unobstructed views of meadows and forest, merging modern architecture with nature in a way that makes you feel part of the landscape itself. Timber homes like this naturally support well-being and suit allergy sufferers particularly well. As for environmental impact, the numbers speak clearly: a ventilation system with heat recovery and an air-source heat pump deliver exceptional energy efficiency.

www.lebensraumholz.de

Photo:

Amelie Niederbuchner
www.amelie-niederbuchner.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 04|23)