Babendiekstraße 23
The house is located in the north of Blankenese, where lush trees and bushes create a very natural setting. As part of a redensification programme, a formerly very large plot was divided into four plots. The urban design concept is based on the desire to design this redensification as carefully as possible for both the neighbourhood and the landscape. The new development should blend in and respect the existing trees. The plot begins with a narrow path that leads from the street onto the property. In addition to the dense tree population at the edges, a large tree stands out on the forecourt of the house. Out of respect for the existing trees and the surrounding area, a plan was drawn up that blends in with the landscape: A 13 by 13 metre square, with one corner cut off to make room for this tree.
Diagonal / Orthogonal
This acute corner forms the entrance side of the house and the covered entrance to the two houses as a standing fifth façade. A small shared vestibule with a column in the center that spatially separates the two entrances. A concrete plinth, placed diagonally in dialogue with the slanted wooden column, thematizes the different geometries. This gesture guides the visitor to the adjacent entrances. The floor plan of the building is based on a 3x3 grid structure. The building partition wall breaks this grid diagonally, with the exception of the stairwells, which remain orthogonal to the façades. The ground floor follows the natural terrain and is therefore on two levels, a higher cooking and dining area and a lower living area. Both are orientated towards the garden with a glazed façade, creating a seamless and threshold-free transition from the outdoors to the interior. Both ground floors are designed as an open-plan layout. The load-bearing structure is supported by two trusses and a free lintel. Built-in furniture as objects in the space subdivide and accentuate it. One of these accents are the fireplaces. These are positioned orthogonally on the diagonal wall, creating two sides: On the one hand, the fireplace radiates warmth in the direction of the living room axis, and on the other in the direction of the conservatory. The conservatories protrude from the façade level as a porch and allow a further line of sight into the depths of the garden from the interior. One difference between the two houses is the design of the kitchens. On one side, there is a closed volume that is lower than the wooden beams and can be closed with frameless door leaves. Another element was added in this room, a triangular, floating bay window with a view of the tree at the entrance. The other house has an open-plan kitchen, with a low kitchen island to allow an unobstructed view of the garden. The island also serves as a breakfast table.
In contrast to the open-plan layout on the ground floor, the upper floors are divided into rooms of different sizes in line with the supporting structure. At the corner of the building in the south-west, the diagonal wall meets the outer walls and forms a triangular room in which the bathrooms and ancillary rooms are located. On the east side, the diagonal wall creates a larger children's room with a view of the old oak tree. On the top floor, a roof terrace is formed at each of the other two corners of the building, where the bedrooms and bathrooms are located. The upper floors are similar, with the addition of 2 outside balconies next to the master bedrooms.
Construction
With the exception of the solid basement, the house was built using timber frame construction. This somewhat unusual decision compared to other masonry villas was made for several reasons. Firstly, the timber frame construction was prefabricated in the workshop before being erected on site, which significantly accelerated the construction time. Another reason was the surrounding context. The warmth of wood as a material and the visible structure of the wooden beam ceiling and wooden columns give the construction principle a distinctive feel and honesty. Finally, the material choices contribute to current discussions in the sustainability debate.
The primary structure and façades are made entirely of timber materials, with the exception of the inner room-closing layer. The external coating used for the wood is a silicate paint and the internal wall surface is clay plaster. As a thermal mass, the roof was equipped with a green roof and a photovoltaic system to generate electricity and two heat pumps to cover the heating requirements of the two houses.
A structured façade
Another focus was the search for an articulated façade language that exudes both a serene presence and a certain robustness. The building is clad with vertical timber paneling, a kind of floor-to-ceiling formwork with profiles of different widths. A wider floor board with a finer cover. This structured interplay of lines creates a nuanced play of light and shadow that changes colour depending on the position of the sun. A sage green colour integrates the object into its surroundings. The diagonal separation is reflected in two different façades. A rather closed volume with punched windows to the front of the property and large glazed sides to the garden sides. The window reveals on the upper storeys protrude slightly from the façade and end above with a kind of canopy. The sun-yellow drop-arm awnings under the roofs add a splash of colour both inside and out. The upper end of the building is formed by a projecting canopy that rests on a kind of cornice.
