A modest retirement home – one client's vision became a beautiful reality. Her new residence, a contemporary take on the classic gabled-roof house, stands as a striking addition to this established neighbourhood. Crafted from a hybrid of wood and concrete, the home captivates with restrained architecture that seamlessly marries functionality and aesthetic refinement. Better still, it sits in perfect harmony with its surroundings while making a compelling statement about sustainability.

Stikel Architects faced an elegant challenge: creating a compact, unfussy gabled-roof residence on the client's existing plot while maximizing sight lines and panoramic views. Concrete—the client's material of choice—is thoughtfully woven throughout the design. The two-storey structure employs solid construction in the basement; the ground floor combines timber framing with a striking exposed concrete partition wall that delivers both structural integrity and visual drama. Crowned by a refined gabled roof, the house achieves a signature silhouette. Timber-framed with ceramic tiles, this roof extends eastward to shelter the expansive terrace, revealing beautifully expressed wooden elements. A flowing balcony adjoins the side, its distinctive slatted roof structure amplifying both spatial presence and lightness. The mountainside addition, housing the entrance, features a flat roof. Throughout, the design maintains a disciplined separation of levels. The ground floor—fully accessible—contains all daily living spaces: living area, dining, kitchen, utility room, bedroom, and bath. Timber ceiling panels mirror the interior roof design from outside, reinforcing warmth and harmony while providing serene counterpoint to the austere exposed concrete partition. Below, the basement accommodates mechanical systems, office, guest bath, and guest quarters. Every architectural gesture remains legible through its own material language: exposed concrete, open timber, and unsealed screed speak volumes in their restraint. A sculptural single-flight folded staircase in reinforced concrete connects the levels. The bathrooms share this philosophy of essentialist elegance, with walls and floors unified under one clear concept. Beyond the considered roof and façade strategy, rooftop photovoltaics reinforce the building's ecological credentials.

www.stikel-architekten.de

Photos:
studio-khf
www.studio-khf.de

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 03|25)