House B-Wald / Alexander Brenner

Architects: Alexander Brenner
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Project area: 1,616
Project year: 2006
Photographs: Courtesy of Alexander Brenner

Two anthracite-coloured building volumes glittering in the sunlight can be seen from the road. The gate in between them opens to a private world. From up here, one looks down to the residence, a building com- posed of light-coloured cubes and dark rectangular slabs. The roof, which is paved with red bricks, braces the single building units.

Approaching the house via the curved access road reveals the contrast between the solid cubes and the lightly-weight, cantilevered sections.

The entrance area is roofed over by such an extremely projecting angled slab. Like the carports at the entrance to the site, this slab is covered with a silicon layer, which sparkles in sun and moonlight. This surfacing finish was refined as a versatile coating system by the architect in a pain- staking development process.

The entrance leads to a central atrium with a glass roof, which allows sunlight right down to garden level, which is oriented towards a wood opposite the house. From the central hall, a rough wooden wall section leads to a bright living space with a kitchen and dining area. A tur- nable fireplace is positioned between the eating and living areas. The fireplace’s distinctive extension penetrating the roof clearly emphasises this important area towards the outside.

Full-length and full-width glazing on the south side and on the front with the view gives the living area a depth that extends beyond the boundaries of the house.