When most people think of solid houses, they think of stone or concrete buildings. However, one of the oldest building materials in the world - wood - can also be used to build solid houses. This approach is often cheaper, provides a better indoor climate and is also more sustainable. This was also the case with the KfW55 standard house for a family of four near Ingelheim. The clients had originally wanted a typical solid construction house.

However, as the planning progressed, the future detached house became increasingly sustainable: due to the materials used, its ability to be dismantled and also the precise calculations of the volumes. In the end, the house could be built around 7 percent smaller with the same area as originally planned. This saved resources and costs. The walls, ceilings, roof and floors are made exclusively of wood, and the entire insulation is made of soft wood fiber. Natural red was chosen for the unglazed roof tiles. The windows and entrance doors are made of oiled larch wood on the outside and inside. The inside of the roof was clad with clay building boards and painted with clay paint, which, in combination with the wooden walls, ensures a very pleasant indoor climate. The façade is finished with light-colored felt plaster. Just as the building envelope follows the function, the simple floor plan on the first floor results from the south-west orientation towards the garden. The spacious and bright living area is accessed via the entrance area, which houses the guest WC, storage space and access to the garage. Thanks to the room-wide and almost floor-to-ceiling glazing, the interior and exterior spaces merge into one. The building is flooded with light thanks to the many well-placed windows, but is still well shielded from the outside world to provide the necessary privacy. A wooden staircase leads to the upper floor with its three private rooms and the main bathroom. Made from the cross-laminated timber offcuts from the production of the door and window cut-outs, it blends naturally into the surroundings.

The garden not only offers space for a terrace, but also for the heat pump with a ground collector. The chosen construction method with wood enabled the talented builders to carry out a lot of the work themselves: from the exterior plaster including insulation work, screed, flooring and staircase construction to plumbing and electrical work. They also designed the entire outdoor area themselves and carried out the excavation work for the ground collector.

www.marcflick.de

Photos:
David Schreyer
www.schreyerdavid.com

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 02|24)