Description

The genius loci determined both the shape and dimensions of this house in a village-like area on the city outskirts. Martina Schlude chose the classical-archaic gable roof form with terse lines and lucid geometry, thus indicating the strikingly simply overall spatial disposition even from outside the building. The rectangular block faces east-west because of the lie of the plots and the customary arrangement of the buildings with eaves parallel with the street. The new building has identical tall windows set equidistantly on its long sides, acquiring rhythm from sliding wooden shutters. They indicate that an equally simple ground plan structure is concealed behind them. And the architect does indeed develop a space providing a continuous experience on the ground floor, which is accessed from the street at the corner of the narrow side: the living, kitchen and dining areas flow into each other.

The central stairs do not break up the open-plan space, but simply form a transparent veil. The top floor accommodates the bedrooms; their symmetrical structure follows the façade image. A special feature is provided by a light and transparent construction on the west side. This serves as a terrace, sunshade and a kind of open corridor, and also as a trellis for plants, intended to provide a natural filter. All the rooms have French windows opening on to this, so that there is contact with the outdoor space. The use of natural building materials, with wood preferred for construction and the outer skin, and the simple structure of the building, reducing the need for resources, and cutting down emissions, indicate ecological planning intentions and suggest that low energy use can be expected.

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Originally published in: Klaus-Peter Gast, Living Plans: New Concepts for Advanced Housing, Birkhäuser, 2005.