In the densely developed Obermenzing district, this timelessly modern villa commands attention with its striking geometric form. Designed as a new family home on a tucked-away plot, the villa speaks through restrained materiality and clean lines. From the start, the clients envisioned concrete as their primary building material—a preference that Munich-based architecture firm Hartman brought to life with exceptional sensitivity, executing the project exactly as the clients had imagined.

Developing an architectural vocabulary for this project presented an interesting paradox: the purely residential setting offered little visual precedent, leaving the design entirely open to interpretation. The result is a cubic form enriched by carefully articulated setbacks and projections. The villa strikes a balance between austere geometry and warmth, enhanced by the refined texture of its fine-scratch plaster facade. On the nearly 1,000 m² site, the building footprint occupies approximately half, preserving ample space for both a front courtyard and a generous rear garden. This garden borders an urban green corridor – locally known as the strawberry meadow – a protected landscape that cannot be developed. This green strip functions as both a visual passage between Obermenzing and Untermenzing and as a critical climate corridor. Local citizens' initiatives envision transforming it into a public park.

The front elevation adopts a restrained perforated facade, with deliberately minimal window openings that lend the house an almost fortified quality. The garden side presents a striking counterpoint: the full width of the living spaces dissolves into expansive, floor-to-ceiling glazing that opens directly onto the landscape. Exposed concrete shapes the interior as powerfully as the exterior. Its clarity and refined elegance made it essential to the design—the architects positioned it as a tactile, sensory element. Running through the home's core across all levels, concrete integrates the staircase and fireplace while anchoring the spatial experience. The floor plan follows classical logic: a double-height entry transitions into the semi-public realm—kitchen, dining, and living areas flowing seamlessly together. Private quarters occupy the upper floor: a master suite with ensuite bath and dressing room, plus children's bedrooms, each with dedicated bathrooms. Geothermal systems and a groundwater heat pump provide most of the home's heating and energy needs. From conception to completion, the project spanned three years. A narrow three-meter access road to the rear property presented construction challenges, but these were ultimately solved without compromising the vision.

www.hartmann-architekten.net

Photography:

Jonathan Sage
www.jonathansage.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 01|25)