Sited in Schlipsheim, a small and traditional village in the southern German state of Bavaria, the unconventionally shaped Haus Lux was designed by architect Manfred Lux for his own family. Photography: Jens Weber
Haus Lux by Manfred Lux, Germany
Haus Lux by Manfred Lux, Germany
Refined and robust at the same time, the house takes its shape directly from its floor plan. Externally, the building seems to twist irregularly, but the architect's intention was to break away from the usual square shape and simply follow the most favourable volume for energy efficiency. 'A sphere is the best form in terms of volume, as there are very few surfaces where the energy is being lost,' says Lux
An all white oak timber exterior, complemented by a grass roof and floor-to-ceiling windows keeps the house cool during the warmer months...
... while flooding all the internal spaces with natural light and providing 'natural realistic pictures of an ever-changing landscape'
With a heavy exposed concrete interior and light and airy exterior, the house acts 'as a low tech air conditioner, keeping the temperature of the house constant and comfortable through all seasons,' explains the architect
The walls follow a design principle originally developed from stonemasons; the surface has been hammered using small stones collected from the rivers in the nearby Austrian Alps
The stairs float above the living area
One of the minimalist bedrooms
Large windows frame the views
One of the wood-panelled bathrooms
Geometric tiling adds pattern to the space
The exterior of the office, separated by a walkway
The interior of the spacious office