Tasked with creating a new home on a long, narrow plot that maximizes the site's potential, the private clients turned to architects Henning Grahn and Marc Flick—both of whom had successfully delivered a previous project together. The resulting elongated residence skillfully integrates the existing split-level structure and remaining walls into a contemporary design. Nestled among villas and mature trees, the building is subtly set back at street level, a thoughtful gesture that articulates the entrance while respecting the neighborhood's character.

The black façade commands immediate attention. The architects chose clinker brick slips—a decision that keeps maintenance minimal while ensuring lasting visual appeal. The home's true power lies in its bold interior-exterior dialogue: a dark, imposing outer shell wraps around an extraordinarily bright interior. All structural walls are rendered in exposed concrete for both technical and aesthetic reasons, while non-load-bearing walls are finished in clay plaster and clay paint, contributing to natural humidity regulation. White polished screed flooring and white concrete stairs complete this vision of a luminous, unified interior experience.

Expansive windows blur the boundary between inside and out. The large glazing along the length of the façade faces north, protecting the interior from excessive heat gain. Floor-to-ceiling windows and oak interior doors establish a striking counterpoint to raw concrete surfaces and polished terrazzo flooring. The austere dark façade visually reconciles the varying window proportions into a unified composition.

The interior unfolds across two complementary zones: the front houses the foyer and guest areas, while an open staircase connects all levels vertically. The rear accommodates the kitchen and living room, oriented toward garden views. The ground floor spaces flow continuously, yet strategic level changes subtly define distinct spatial experiences. A centrally positioned double-height void—recessed in plan—visually stitches the floors together. Upstairs divides into a children's zone and sleeping quarters, linked by a concrete bridge through the gallery. A continuous roof crowns this composition, both structurally and visually unifying the two realms.

www.hga.archi
www.marcflick.de

Living space: 397 m²
Plot size: 865 m²
Construction duration: approximately 1.5 years
Construction method: Solid masonry with external insulation and clinker veneer
Energy strategy: Air-source heat pump with radiant floor heating, solar control glazing with external roller blinds

Photography:
David Schreyer
www.schreyerdavid.com

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 01|25)