The spatious property marks the border of a dense residential area in the village of Lichtentanne, at the foot of the Ore Mountains. The open landscape begins here. Wide fields give way to hilly meadows, lined with poplar trees. As beautiful as the views into the endless landscape, as rough can this nature be. Wind and weather shape the foothills of the ore Mountains with an immense force. The architectural concept incorporates both: the reference to the surrounding landscape, as well as protection from weather.

Instead of a solitaire, this new residential building is designed as an ensemble, consisting of three independent volumes. This building composition of consists of a two-storey main house, an orangery and a commercial building. It marks the border between the existing neighbourhood and the open countryside.
With simple orthogonal structures this ensemble is consciously placed in its surrounding context. At the same time, it straight-forward design of the three buildings gives it its own powerful expression.
The deliberate positioning of the three volumes on the large property creates different outdoor spaces that allow unique views into the landscape to the south as well as creating visual connections between the buildings and the green spaces on the site itself.

The three buildings are positioned around the heart of the property: the private garden. While the main house and the orangery are more or less enclosed on three sides, the ground floor is fully opened to the south and south-west, towards the enclosed garden.
The external simplicity of the design gives little hint of its internal complexity: In the main rooms, such as the kitchen, living room and foyer, large open spaces and galleries provide exciting views of the roof with its visible larch-timber construction. In addition to the windows, the built-in furniture, the flooring on the upper floor and the staircase are made from larch wood as well. The fireplace and its bench are made of natural shell limestone. With the interplay of contrasts and opposites an unexpected spatial surprise is created.
An ensemble that combines consistency, integrity and the connection to nature.

Building project: At the fields edge | new construction of a residential complex in Lichtentanne
Client: private
Completion: 2016
Photographer: Simon Menges

The aim was to resolve the urban design contradiction between the large volume of the new sports complex and the small-scale surrounding buildings. At the same time, the new building had to be embedded in the existing landscape without denying its use as a school sports hall and club sports building. By staggering the heights of the new building, the relatively massive structure blends in with the site’s natural topography.
With its precise form and shimmering choice of materials, the building succeeds in appearing as a confident sports hall. The roofed main entrance serves not only as an address but also as a small tribune for the sports field.

Building project: Sports facilities at Biel | new construction of a sports hall for the Clara Wieck secondary school in Zwickau, Germany
Client: City of Zwickau
Invitation competition: 2014 | 1st prize
Completion: 2019

Embedded into the green area of a hospital complex, the new pharmacy forms an autonomous addition to the ensemble of the cultural monument. The multi-angled shape of the building derives from the surrounding context and adds to the functional and architectural concept.
The beige-coloured plaster façade was refined with a horizontal broom stroke structure, giving it an iridescent appearance and correspondence to the surrounding, existing buildings.
The slim aluminum windows are flush with the façade. An incision into the building is lined with wooden elements and emphasizes the pharmacy’s main entrance. In contrast to the building’s sharp-edged exterior, the main sales area is a welcoming cocoon.
Characterized by floor-to-ceiling wall paneling and built-in furniture made of dark, wooden surfaces, the visitor enters an unexpectedly sheltered cosmos. Curved, dynamic sales counters with high-gloss lacquered surfaces complete the scenery. Natural daylight enters the room via circular skylights that provide a view of the surrounding treetops.

Building project: Pharmacy at the city forest | new building in Zwickau-Marienthal
Client: Uta Münch
Completion: 2009
Photographer: Maximilian Meisse, Geuther

The sharp-edged, polygonal building uses the existing slope of the spacious property, while its solid shape is deliberately set apart from the gentle landscape and the heterogeneous surrounding neighbourhood.
The monolithic appearance is organized and structured by projections and recesses in the façade. In addition, these areas contrast with the pale exposed concrete thanks to the use of stove-enameled aluminum panels.
Due to the multi-angled shape, all of the rooms are optimally oriented towards the light. The complexity of the sheltered interior spaces is only revealed when entering the house.
The solid exterior contrasts with the coziness of the inside, which is expressed through warm colours and natural surfaces. In combination with open spaces and galleries, this interplay of space gives the house a spaciousness that cannot be guessed at from the outside.
The views of the surrounding nature are accentuated by a small number of precise window openings. Fine lime plaster, high-quality natural stone flooring and built-in furniture with warm surfaces from natural wood complete the picture of a custom-made home.

Building project: Maison du béton | new construction of a residential house in Zwickau-Cainsdorf
Client: Private
Completion: 2009
Photographer: Bertram Bölkow