From the street, this Lake Starnberg residence appears as a conventional family home—its style harmonizing with neighboring properties and defined by a continuous wooden lattice facade interrupted only by the entry door and a window above. The architects WSM, based locally, designed this residence.

The home's clear, structured design respects the development plan while interpreting it through a contemporary lens, seamlessly integrating with the traditional, rural character of the surroundings. The true revelation comes at the garden side, where the facade opens entirely to frame mature oak trees anchoring the southeast corner. A loggia and sheltered terrace occupy the eastern edge, establishing a series of distinctive outdoor and interior spaces that—despite generous glazing—maintain an intimate, sheltered quality. An upper-floor balcony, tucked beneath the dramatically overhanging gable roof, crowns the eastern facade. At the rear, the design employs a striking visual metaphor: the continuous wooden lattice appears to have been carefully carved away in two strategic segments, inviting light within. The upper opening, a horizontal band that aligns with the shallow-pitched roof, rises to mid-story height. The lower aperture, on the garden level, spans two-thirds of the long facade and extends the full story height, seamlessly connecting to the expansive glazing and operable glass doors.

The interior is organized around a three-way division perpendicular to the ridge. The kitchen, dining, living, and office zones dissolve this structure into a flowing spatial continuum, while a vertical void connecting the upper-floor circulation reinforces a loft-like sensibility. Upstairs, private spaces—bedrooms, bathrooms, and powder rooms—are distinctly defined. The accessory building mirrors the residence's design vocabulary, creating a unified architectural statement. Positioned strategically, this rectangular structure houses a two-car garage and storage while anchoring the garden and screening street views. Both structures employ solid masonry construction. At 235 m² of living space, supplemented by 130 m² of additional usable area, the home maintains efficiency without sacrifice. Climate control comes via an air-to-water heat pump, enhanced by rooftop photovoltaic panels that contribute renewable solar energy.

www.wsm-architekten.com

Photography Credits:

Anto Jularic
www.antojularic.com

(Published in CUBE Munich 02|23)