Haus proud: three German architecture firms improving the local Gestaltung
Haus proud: three German architecture firms improving the local Gestaltung
TM Haus, Theinselberg
SoHo Architektur
The TM Haus, by Bavarian practice SoHo Architektur, matches a rendered interior with white interior walls and floors (as well as the occasional touch of concrete). The result is a grand sequence of spaces that belies the house’s small scale. Located on the edge of a small village, the modest three- bedroom dwelling was designed to evoke the modest agricultural buildings in the region, with a barn-like shallow roof pitch and a scattering of square windows.
As originally featured in the April 2017 issue of Wallpaper* (W*217)
TM Haus, Theinselberg
SoHo Architektur
Internal surfaces were chosen to add richness to the simple material palette, and special care was taken to match up the views to the big windows, allowing the external landscape to bring splashes of colour into the austere interior, with its extensive built-in storage and rough concrete stairway.
Haus 36, Stuttgart
Matthias Bauer
Sitting on a steep site overlooking central Stuttgart, Haus 36 is described by its architect Matthias Bauer as being ‘shaped like a mountain crystal.’ The walls and triangulated roof are formed from concrete complemented by flush glazing infills, while inside, rows of porthole windows serve both as surface texture and a way of bringing illumination and privacy to the interior – they’re arrayed above the sunken bathtub, for example. The concrete is intentionally rendered thick and monolithic, with prominent pour lines adding to the sense of the house as a geological outcrop.
Haus 36, Stuttgart
Matthias Bauer
Living spaces are arranged around a central flight of stairs and all detailing is kept to a minimum, from the large expanses of glass to flashes of timber. The concrete also keeps energy consumption to a minimum, creating what the Stuttgart- based architect calls a ‘slow’ house. ‘It’s a prototype for a new holistic architecture,’ he says.
Kate Studio, Munich
Thomas Pscherer
Located in Munich’s southerly district of Harlaching, the Kate Studio is a bespoke writing retreat set in the client’s large suburban garden. Designed by Thomas Pscherer – an architect who likes to focus on using natural, recycled or energy-efficient materials – the project comprises a 7m metal-clad timber cube, with self-contained accommodation that includes a mezzanine sleeping space, a concealed bath and plenty of storage. Views are directed out onto the best tree specimens (a ladder takes you up to a rooftop terrace), and heating is via solar panels and a fireplace. ‘It was important to the client not to cover the garden with concrete,’ the architect says, ‘although passers-by probably wonder if it’s a home or a transformer station.’ Pscherer is a sole practitioner based in Munich – ‘I have the freedom and independence to work on unconventional projects,’ he says.