Goethestraße 1

The planning process of the building proved to be very challenging

because of the local plan, which already dictated essential factors such

as the height of the eave and the ridge and even smaller details like the

measurements of dormers. The usage of water as a creative element

was also prohibited outside of the strict building footprint.

The living-, children’s-, parental- and sauna areas were spread across

four separate levels within the building. The central theme behind the

concept was the definition of striking relations between the inside and

outside spaces: The water surface in front of the floor to ceiling windows

in the ground floor makes the outside area seemingly merge with the

building.

The circular dining zone evokes the image of a floating plane on the

water and is therefore also zoning the inside and outside. The reflecting

surface of the water helps to create many different atmospheres within

the building.

A tilted exterior wall is used to create the airspace that connects the

ground floor with the upper floor, while also enabling natural lighting for

the basement. The sloping high windows upstairs create the feeling of

living within the treetops. The different levels are accessed by an open

steel staircase, which also serves as a highly sculptural element of the

inside area. The monolithically shaped façade of the building creates a

distinct measurement in cohesion with the opulent tree population of the

property.