When architect Anna Philipp designed this villa, the location presented both enchanting prospects and real planning challenges. A commercial property sits to the south, while roads border two sides of the site. Rather than fight these constraints, Philipp positioned the building at the highest point of the terrain—like a home nestled on a green hill—and shifted the main living spaces from the ground and garden levels up to the first storey. The result: residential areas float above the surrounding bustle and activity. On the upper floor, this strategy yields a serene, loft-like living space stretching over 20 metres deep.

Floor-to-ceiling frameless glazing at the rear draws the eye up into the canopy and across the valley to a distant castle. A 15-metre window seat facing the treetops anchors the expansive loft, functioning as both central hub and circulation spine. Like the extended dining table, the kitchen with its supporting prep kitchen, library wall, house bar, full dressing room, and countless bespoke interior details, it was conceived and crafted by Philipp specifically for this residence. The effect is that of an exceptionally refined tree house—one where scale and generosity of proportion transcend the whimsy of the original concept. The residents inhabit a carefully curated green sanctuary, removed from the ordinary rhythms of the outside world. Facing the street, the villa presents two offset white concrete planes that seal the façade; the house entrance sits sheltered in the gap between them. Upon crossing the threshold into the foyer, the view opens onto a serene atrium garden to the south. By positioning the building's mass to screen the industrial structures beyond and deploying two simple exposed-concrete walls, the architects have carved out a private refuge. A pool, verdant lawn, a striking specimen tree, and a generous timber terrace define this sheltered garden retreat. From the foyer, a generous staircase or central lift distributes residents to the living floors, garage, and technical level. The garden level accommodates two guest suites for the family's adult children alongside a "black box"—a music studio and rehearsal space where this remarkably musical family gathers regularly for jam sessions and celebratory karaoke nights. Music echoes as a unifying theme throughout the home. Upstairs, a grand piano and cello claim their place at the living-dining intersection. A stairway to the rooftop skylounge floods daylight into the heart of the living quarters. Here, white takes command—tempered by the warm texture of polished concrete underfoot.

www.philipparchitekten.de

Photography:

José Campos
www.josecamposphotographer.com

(Featured in CUBE Frankfurt 02|23)