How can a residential building in urban fringe location near a brook with riparian forest be situated in the landscape when the resident is severely handicapped? Which typology or organization facilitates the resident to access and experience the landscape and outside facilities?

To meet the needs of the resident for a wheelchair-accessible environment, a structure connected to its environment was built at ground level. It was developed from inside to outside. Without any height difference, the house and its surrounding wind- and weather-protected outside facilities can be reached directly from the carport.

The idea to create a passive house was contradictory to the design priority.  Therefore, a mostly self-sustaining heating system was developed. In addition to excellent structural component properties and the use of renewable resources, deep drilling for geothermal energy, a solar plant and a well ensure the greatest energy efficiency possible.

The riparian forest and the both brooks are most significant. What hides behind the hedges of the neighbours is not important. The countless detached family houses that reflect the trends of home improvement centres are shielded by the Gunhold house.

The plan was to build a simple house creating closeness to nature and visual relationships at the right places, with wood in vertical formwork panels as the adequate material to get older and approximate the place over the years and to resemble the impression of the riparian forest.

Simple and unostentatious from the outside, the house develops the desired variety and openness from the interior, the eye point of the resident.

2008,  Gunhold Family, Net floor area: 175 m2

Services: Architectural planning

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