Our clients had quite contrasting notions of their future home. Her image: an intimate, cosy villa with pitched roof, and immediate access to a romantic garden. His image: a modern villa with roof terrace, open plan and extended glass facades. It was our challenge to combine these qualities.

Situated on dramatically sloping topography with an incredible view to the west, the dwelling is located in a neighbourhood recognized for its 19th century art deco villas. We interpreted the typology of the villa in massive wood, and then opened it up, stretched, folded and terraced it. The characteristic volume of the pitched roof includes the garage. a staircase leading to a loft space and two terraces.

A stuccoed brick wall encloses the house from the street and neighbours and opens to a garden oriented to the south.  The garden is designed as a series of steps; from which emerge the four floor levels of the house: the loft space, the living room with an extended terrace, sleeping rooms with a playroom connecting to the garden, and a self-contained apartment with access to the lowest garden terrace.

Team: Reinhard Kropf, Ane Dahl, Nadine Engberding