Haus W fulfills the wish of a German-Russian musician family, who perform at renowned Berlin concert halls, to settle quietly in nature. To this end, they acquired an impressive meadow plot of about 6,500 sqm in a village in the Oberhavel district of Brandenburg, approximately 75 km north of Berlin. The surroundings are characterized by a unique lake landscape, surrounded by dense forests, expansive meadows, and fields.

Subsequently, the design of Haus W was developed to meet the owners’ desire for a sustainable, cost-effective new wooden building. The architecture abstracts the form and functionality of a musical instrument. The single-story building, including an outbuilding, features a clearly divided square floor plan. On one side, there is the open, extroverted living, dining, and kitchen area; on the other, the introverted, separate sleeping area with bathroom. Large glazed surfaces seamlessly connect the living area with the partially covered, floating wooden terrace and the adjacent natural garden.

Moreover, the structural system of Haus W is based on a timber frame construction with glued laminated timber beams and steel connectors, built on a cast-in-place concrete slab. The facade is clad with a ventilated shiplap siding made of untreated larch boards, which naturally weather to a silvery gray over time. The window frames are wooden and painted anthracite gray, complementing the natural appearance. The paths on the property are designed with permeable open gravel.

In conclusion, Haus W is an excellent example of sustainable timber construction using renewable raw materials. It meets the highest demands for minimalist, energy-efficient architecture, realized cost-effectively while embodying a harmonious connection between living and nature.

Client: private
Structural engineering: Dipl.-Ing. Hartmut Unterberg
Construction company: Signumplan GmbH
Photos: Li Yuanhao