Residence in Neusäß
- Heide Wessely
Heavyweight construction is not the only method employed here: this home is a hybrid. Although the stucco-covered structure brings to mind a pebble set in the landscape, only its core is of concrete. Its outer shell consists of a layer of cellulose (depth: 32 cm) and a wood loadbearing structure. The design with a 10 × 10 m footprint makes use of passive climate control, has no basement, and is equipped with a heat pump, mechanical ventilation and panel heating. The large windows and facets are visible from afar. The idea behind the form: in order to attain the best possible ratio of area to volume, the architects sought to approximate a sphere. The placement of the windows takes into account the position of the sun. The panes – at nearly 10 m² each – supply significant solar gains, while the core acts as thermal storage. For natural ventilation there are small opaque apertures and the large sliding doors on the ground floor. The approach to the design could almost be considered pragmatic, yet creates astonishing results inside. The combination of obliquely cut edges, slanted ceiling surfaces and radial walls emanating from the stairwell, and large surfaces of glass bestows the compact house a sense of spaciousness. The entrance hall profits from the decision to do without a vestibule. Ornamental perforation – which is derived from the floor plan – creates a play of light on the floor and ceiling. From the entrance hall, the stair, following the terrain, leads down to the living room. At its narrowest point the latter is only 2.10 m wide. But because it becomes wider toward the middle, adjoins the kitchen and the entrance hall, and has expansive openings, the space is anything but cramped. When the light is right, the pebbles in the concrete surfaces, brought to the fore by the bush-hammer, start to sparkle.
