BH
Direct comission 2023
ongoing
Private client
Blackforest, Germany
Team: Silvana Feuering, Emmanuel Kazis, Benjamin Engelhardt, Marco Zürn, Markus Stern
In collaboration with b-e-o Benjamin Engelhardt Architekt
Black forest barn house / BH
The detached house in the Black Forest, embedded in an orchard on a slope, embodies the vision of a harmonious combination of architecture and nature. The landscape is not only respected, but actively integrated into the architectural concept. The geometry of the building follows the hilly topography and preserves the natural beauty of the surroundings. The house or better the barn embodies the idea of a subtle intervention in the cultural landscape by preserving the orchards while offering a modern, ecologically thought-out home.
Materiality and construction
On the garden level, the house unfolds as a composition of exposed concrete, glass and steel. The extensive glazing in the kitchen, living room, guest room and study opens up the house to the landscape and provides a sweeping view over the hills of the Black Forest. The rough, natural texture of the exposed concrete, which also serves as an earthquake wall, lends the building an earthy stability. This construction is complemented by delicate, seven-centimetre-thin steel supports that seem to effortlessly carry the solid timber storey above and give the house a floating character.
The basement, which is concealed in the slope, serves to anchor the building in the terrain, allowing it to blend discreetly into the landscape. The deliberately chosen materiality - an exposed concrete wall with glass on the lower floor and a solid timber structure on the upper floor - creates an exciting dialogue between coolness and warmth, between openness and cosiness.
The upper floor, tradition and innovation
The upper floor, which faces the street at ground level, houses the bedrooms with bathrooms and a shelter for equipment and vehicles. This is where the connection to the regional building tradition manifests itself. The solid timber façade is clad in thatch, a deliberate reference to the traditional Black Forest houses with their originally thatched roofs. This choice of material creates an ecological and aesthetic link to the local building culture, while windows at selected locations allow the rooms to enjoy plenty of light and wide views.
On the roof, technology and nature merge in a symbiosis: photovoltaic panels generate sustainable energy, while the green roof contributes to climate regulation and biodiversity. The house appears to float above the landscape, but tapered foundations with climbing plants give it the necessary stability.
The incision for light, air and space
A central incision in the building forms an inner patio that not only gives the house structure and clarity, but also ensures a special circulation of light and air. This spatial opening draws natural light deep into the building and enables targeted views of the surrounding landscape. At the same time, a sheltered and partially covered outdoor space is created, which reinforces the connection between inside and outside. The inner courtyard functions as an intimate retreat, embedded in the expanse of the Black Forest landscape.
The simple, yet exciting geometry of the building creates clear spatial separations, while the materiality and generous glass surfaces enable a flowing connection between the interior and exterior spaces. The topography of the slope remains largely untouched, while the house blends naturally into the cultivated landscape of the orchards.
Text created with the aid of AI.
