From Inside Out
A residence that dissolves into the landscape, becoming a space of discovery
The couple had spent several years in one of Europe's major cities before deciding to establish a new home base—one that would seamlessly blend working remotely with a sanctuary for rest and retreat. On a hillside overlooking rolling countryside, they discovered the perfect site on the edge of a conveniently situated village in the Oberbergisches Land, surrounded by pastoral calm. Grotegut Architects from Bonn designed a single-story residence that rejects unnecessary additions, instead orchestrating terraces, pool, garden pavilion, and carport into a sculptural composition unified with the main living spaces.
From the village perspective, the new building presents itself with quiet restraint. Oriented toward the southeast, expansive windows frame the vast landscape beyond, redirecting attention away from the village's visual complexity. The house's clean geometric form sits modestly within its context, avoiding visual dominance. The architects deliberately remained within the building envelope—prioritizing genuine need and contextual appropriateness over maximum spatial yield. The heart of the home is a generous open-plan living, kitchen, and dining area, where a roof aperture above the kitchen draws the eye upward and amplifies the sense of space. This flows into a semi-open workspace and the private wing, with dressing room, bedroom, and spa-like master bath featuring a freestanding tub. These spaces create a seamless dialogue with the outdoor area, anchored by a lap pool. The expansive roof structure—a plank ceiling system supported by masonry walls—reinforces the effect of continuity between interior and exterior. The flexible floor plan anticipates changing needs: the front section can easily become a separate apartment with the addition of a single wall. Accessibility has been thoughtfully integrated for future adaptations. The heated pool's considerable energy demands are met by an expansive geothermal system paired with 200 m² of photovoltaic panels. Together with a heat pump, these supply all heating for both the building and pool. In summer, underfloor cooling circulates through the geothermal loop, achieving a net-neutral energy balance in a closed-loop cycle.
Photography:
Andrea Dingeldein
www.andreadingeldein.de
(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 03|24)
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