This "Spreewaldhaus" is something of a star among the currently highly sought-after and much-admired weekend and holiday homes or tiny houses: flooded with light, half glass, half wood, it is currently being showered with praise by experts. Architect Marc Feustel and his firm Mafeu probably did not anticipate this when he designed the small house: "The main design idea was to showcase nature as the main protagonist in such a way that people feel part of the landscape even when inside the building." Nothing that stands in the way of nature should disturb the picture – no fences and no outdoor lighting. Given this basic idea, it goes without saying that all the building materials come from nature. Except for the glass, one might object – but glass is also a material that is originally made from a mixture of natural substances. Certainly not the ultra-modern and sturdy glass windows and doors that were used here to create an almost completely transparent house. The bamboo used for the terrace flooring is another natural material. Due to the special environment, the house floats on a steel support level and is therefore flood-proof. The floor and ceiling elements are made of wood. The south side, where the entrance is located, is clad with larch wood slats. Inside, the floors, doors and built-in furniture are made of oak. And, of course, the roof, which is based on the traditional Spreewald house style: the gable roof is covered with thatch. This creates a cosy atmosphere. The size of the weekend house is slightly underestimated. It has two floors and is surprisingly spacious with 75 m² of living space. In terms of room layout, nothing is lacking. On the ground floor, there is a living area plus dining area and kitchen, a bathroom and a sauna. Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and another bathroom. The property is surrounded by trees, which stand guard at a respectful distance and protect it from view. But privacy is not really necessary – because when you open the floor-to-ceiling sliding windows (each weighing 600 kilograms), the house almost merges with nature. The interior becomes part of the exterior. The north side is fully glazed: thanks to a corner design without supports, the façade on the north-west corner can be opened to over 15 m².

www.solarlux.de
www.mafeu.de

Photos:
Wolfgang Zlodej
www.wolfgangzlodej.com 

(Featured in CUBE Berlin 03|23)