Modern architecture in a rural setting
Although big cities offer numerous advantages, the couple decided to forgo all this for the benefits of enjoying a healthy and purposeful life surrounded by nature. But this could not be achieved by simply having a cottage in the countryside. They planned their unconventional refuge based on a completely ecological design compliant with the Passive House Standard. Wouldn’t the building be out of place at the edge of the small village of Betzenstein, in the middle of the Franconian Switzerland Nature Park? Not at all! For this particular couple, it was all about sustainability and environmental awareness.
The location on a northern slope provided optimum conditions for the living areas to face the south. The large panoramic fronts provide plenty of natural light, allow an abundance of thermal energy into the interior of the house and, last but not least, offer fantastic views of the rolling hills. The roof and façade form a monolithic structure, which is covered with dark shingles – an architectural element that is widely used in the region.
It is not just the materials used that take the environment into consideration, but also the shape of the building. In order to balance out the generous spatial layout with additional office space and two holiday apartments, the building was divided into two parallel, gable-ended thresholds with a double pitch roof, connected by a white plastered base. A strong stone wall made from rectangular blocks of ashlar sourced locally from Jura, terraces the slope allowing ground-level access to the outside.
The clear stylistic elements of the architecture with a minimalist choice of colour and materials continues seamlessly in the interior area. But it does not convey a sense of minimalism at all: The stairs, which look like they are floating, lead from the entrance area to the gallery upstairs. The airspace that stretches high up into the roof truss creates a captivating sense of spatial interaction in conjunction with the lower floor height at base level.