In an agricultural village near Cologne, private clients have realized their dream of a spacious villa. They acquired a long and narrow plot—just 14 metres wide but 400 metres deep, totalling 2,800 m²—and commissioned two architectural firms to compete for the best approach to developing this challenging site.

The property sits along a village street where buildings line up without clear urban planning. The design solution came together quickly: Daniel Krafft's architectural firm created an elongated, two-storey structure with a cubic form—timeless yet intensely functional. The narrow ends face the street and garden respectively. What strikes you immediately is the home's striking black envelope, while the wooden slats screening the large street-facing window provide both visual intrigue and privacy for the residents.

Toward the neighbouring properties, the black façade remains closed. Yet it opens generously where the building steps back and toward the garden with its pool. Cantilevers at the narrow ends blur the boundary between indoors and out. A clever interruption in the building's length creates a patio, through which a bamboo garden rises across all three levels. Beyond its visual appeal, this vertical garden brings light and fresh air to the wellness area in the basement.

Inside, the owners wanted the same design philosophy: refined yet striking minimalism. The ground floor reads as one flowing space, organized around the principle of "rooms within the room." Black built-in units—the so-called Black Boxes—tuck away all the necessary infrastructure. Strategically positioned, these elements create clarity while framing intriguing sightlines throughout. The front houses kitchen cabinets and wardrobes, with an elevator and guest bath tucked behind. The rear contains an open fireplace and a suspended bar. When the sliding glass walls open, you could swear you're dining and living outdoors, enveloped by nature.

www.danielkrafft.de

Living space: 340 m²
Plot size: 2,800 m²
Construction period: 14 months
Construction method: solid
Energy concept: air heat pump + photovoltaic system

Photography Credits:

Ralf Heidenreich
www.heidenreich.biz

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|23)