If "time away" had a face, it might well resemble this spot on Lake Starnberg. Spanning 6,000 m², the estate houses a summer residence complete with boathouse, garage, and sauna—a vision brought to life by renowned architect Stephan Maria Lang. The resulting structure features a concrete core wrapped in a striking 50 cm layer of folded wooden shingles, evoking the character of a boathouse, shipyard building, or perhaps a Scandinavian church. This dialogue between concrete and wood continues throughout the interior, manifesting across floors, walls, and ceilings in subtle composition.

Restrained in both material and form, the buildings dissolve into the landscape—a philosophy rooted in Japanese design principles and entirely aligned with the owners' vision. Everything feels precisely placed: the structures themselves and the two oak trees naturally fused together at the jetty. Within this rural setting, a distinctive sensibility has taken root—one that prizes refinement, meticulous detail, organic spatial flow, and the gentle evolution of subtle seasonal shifts. But realizing this vision required undoing what came before. Previous owners had installed drainage systems to convert the wet meadows into manicured English lawns. While charming elsewhere, such formality was fundamentally at odds with this place. So the drainage was removed, allowing the original wetland character to reclaim its rightful dominance. Today, grasses like Luzula and Deschampsia compose a poetic tapestry with strategically mowed clearings—the heart of this naturally expressive garden. Against this untamed backdrop of wetland grasses and sweeping perennials, the precisely crafted architectural elements strike an inviting, understated balance, engaging in respectful dialogue with the surrounding landscape. "My aim was to conceive this as a complete work of art," reflects architect Stephan Maria Lang, "where architecture, furnishings, and landscape together capture the distinctive spirit of the adjacent Osterseen lakes, with their characteristic wetland character."

www.stephanmarialang.de

(Published in CUBE Munich, Issue 01/21)