Berlin is a city defined by water and lush natural surroundings – an impression reinforced by the "Lake House," a private client's personal retreat. Situated on a small peninsula in western Berlin, the design bears the distinctive signature of Sigurd Larsen, the Danish architect based in the city. The recently completed multi-part structure seems to carry the hallmark of its creator's Nordic heritage. It embodies the character of a forest-surrounded sanctuary, a serene refuge set apart from the everyday world.

The reality is more pragmatic, yet no less remarkable—this building achieves a seamless unity of architecture and landscape. The client envisioned a semi-public health and wellness facility, designed with deep sensitivity to its natural setting. From a distance, the five staggered pavilions with their sloped roofs resemble a fleet of ships or boathouses. In fact, each maintains the architectural scale of neighboring waterfront structures. With fully glazed facades opening toward the water, these five "cabins" offer remarkable flexibility for diverse uses—from conferences and workshops to therapeutic sessions and coaching. Each gable profiles itself uniquely, revealing its intended purpose. Whether hosting meditation sessions, lakeside workshops, or athletic activities, this secluded natural haven becomes an ideal setting for transformation and growth.

Slender pine trunks, gently angled by nature, cast their reflections across the glazed surfaces. Five roofs of varying pitches weave together, creating a unified volume whose dramatic silhouette announces the complex's entrance with striking presence. These interlocking houses, each with its own identity and separate access, maximize spatial flexibility. The first pavilion houses guest quarters across two levels, offering residents immediate connection to the surrounding landscape. The second contains a refined open-plan kitchen anchored by a centrally positioned dining platform—the social heart of the entire complex. With finishes of this caliber, the "Lake House" functions equally well as a permanent residence.

Soaring ceiling heights create a dynamic spatial experience that deepens the meditative quality of this retreat. The kitchen flows eastward onto a terrace bathed in morning sunlight, its corner positioning providing natural shelter from the wind. Large windows frame the awakening day, inviting soft light into the living spaces. Westward, the room captures sweeping views of the lake, anchored by an ancient beech tree in the foreground. The central pavilion – the tallest and most prominent structure – houses a generous hall for exhibitions, athletic pursuits, and gatherings. Movable furnishings and flexible wall systems adapt fluidly to different functions. A suspended fireplace framed by the panoramic vista becomes the ideal vantage point for watching day surrender to dusk across the water. A kitchen wing interlocks seamlessly with the main hall, creating an intimate space within the larger composition. Sliding doors partition the area beneath the pitched roof, allowing smaller groups to gather in their own distinct atmosphere.

A second pavilion is devoted entirely to wellness and restoration. Oriented northwest, it captures summer sunsets from a privileged vantage point. The sauna dissolves the boundary between interior and landscape, offering unobstructed views of nature and water. Upstairs, a serene meditation chamber shelters beneath the gabled roof, its quiet atmosphere undisturbed by the world beyond. The fifth structure opens to cool northern light and accommodates artist studios and therapy rooms. The interplay of dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy creates a poetic transition from this verdant sanctuary back to the pulse of the nearby city.

www.sigurdlarsen.com

Photography:
Kram Services

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|24)