Hillside development offers a distinct advantage: neighboring buildings retain their views with minimal impact. The steeper the terrain, the more critical this becomes. Wendling Architektur found precisely these ideal conditions on this site. The existing structure sits at the property's upper boundary, with commercial spaces fronting the street—buffering the residential units from public view. All residential areas orient toward the valley, capturing unobstructed landscape vistas. This panorama had to be preserved from every angle, including the roof terrace of the previously built extension. The new family home responds elegantly, nestling into the hillside across two levels. Like its companion building, it presents a closed face to the slope while opening generously toward the valley.

Access to the upper floor flows through a small courtyard positioned below the existing structure. The moment you enter, your gaze is drawn outward, flowing directly through the house—an immediate testament to how thoroughly the views shaped this design. This intention becomes unmistakable on the valley-facing side, where the rendered, grey façade unfolds with generous openness. The central section projects forward slightly, creating a tripartite composition that's echoed in the varied window proportions.

Inside, the symmetrical logic continues. The central wing contains the upper floor's open, shared living space. The side wings accommodate an office and guest room on one side, the entrance and stairwell on the other. Children's rooms occupy the central position on the lower floor, while the parents enjoy their private retreat with ensuite bathroom on the northeast wing. The opposite side houses the staircase, technical spaces, and children's bath.

Material selection reinforces the restrained spatial organization. Beyond the solid oak entry door, oak parquet extends throughout the living areas, joined by matching window frames and staircase. Elsewhere, white dominates—plastered walls and white-lacquered wooden doors, the kitchen included. Architecture creates the stage where family life unfolds. Yet this stage extends beyond four walls. The landscape becomes the defining design element, framing and activating every interior space through powerful visual connections to the outside.

www.wendlingarchitektur.de

Photography Credits:

Ben van Skyhawk
www.benvanskyhawk.com

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|23)