Terraced houses offer many advantages, yet they share a common challenge: windowless side walls. In long, narrow homes, this constraint becomes even more pronounced. That is, unless the architects plan ahead. Such foresight shaped a housing settlement in Ludwigsburg, built in the late 1980s. When lohrmannarchitekt redesigned the homes, they discovered a stairwell drawing natural light through an upper-floor window and an atrium anchoring the ground floor. Yet this light source doesn't announce itself at the entrance. Instead, it reveals itself as a delightful surprise, emerging halfway through the elongated ground-floor sequence where rooms flow naturally toward the living area and beyond to the adjoining terrace.

"Our main challenge was orchestrating this linear sequence of spaces," explains Holger Lohrmann, describing the starting point that shaped the entire concept. Brushed, naturally oiled oak flooring emphasizes the seamless movement between rooms. A sense of openness is enhanced by lightly whitewashed oak furniture, paired with color-coordinated travertine in the outdoor spaces – sometimes scattered, sometimes laid as pavers. The interior and exterior merge through thoughtful material selection, complemented by frameless glazing that opens to both atrium and terrace. These spaces of respite become an inseparable extension of everyday living.

This flowing continuity shapes the design language – from material selection to furniture design. The dining bench fronting the atrium extends seamlessly into the living room, where it doubles as a TV console. Raw steel accents – curtain rods and sliding door hardware – create striking contrast with the wood, introducing what Lohrmann calls "serene vitality." The atrium, with its Japanese maple, gravel, and travertine stepping stones evoking a Zen garden, anchors the ground floor as a meditative retreat. Upstairs, wellness takes center stage with a sauna as the focal point, around which the bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom are thoughtfully arranged. The restrained design – floor-to-ceiling doors and concealed frames – sets a calm tone befitting this zone of tranquility.

www.lohrmannarchitekt.de

(Featured in CUBE Stuttgart 03|20)