When the architect's ideas meet the client's

There are construction projects where the architect's holistic approach meets the expertise and experience of the builders and the refined sense of style of the client. In such cases, something exceptional is always created. This was achieved with a family home in southern Germany, designed by the Freiburg architectural office Harter + Kanzler & Partner using nine large-format sliding systems with panoramic design Schüco ASS 77 PD.SI.

The house is situated in a developing area close to several historical buildings. The client desired a barrier-free family home that would adapt to the sloping terrain, resonate with the existing construction in the immediate vicinity, and be oriented towards a spacious garden leading into the valley.

The reinforced concrete structure of the house with a cladding strip facade is embedded into the hillside and was positioned on the plot to occupy as little space as possible while keeping the garden as large as possible. While the house appears as a single-storey and somewhat enclosed structure from the street, the extended two-storey structure opens up to the garden thanks to generous glazing that stretches across the entire height of the rooms, creating a seamless transition between the interior and exterior. The roof with various projecting elements and a balcony on the upper floor connects the house and the garage into a single whole. Their lines accentuate the elongated character of the building, supported by the use of horizontally placed brick cladding strips.

Discrete zones and open spaces with panoramic views

The house is entered through a covered space between the house and the garage on the upper floor, from the side oriented towards the slope. In both the outdoor entrance area and the covered vestibule, the visitor's gaze is immediately directed towards the large garden. The upper floor, located at street level, offers private spaces for relaxation. Bedrooms, dressing rooms, and bathrooms are arranged functionally, all having views of the garden thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glazing provided by the panoramic design systems Schüco ASS 77 PD.SI. From all rooms, one can directly step outside onto the adjacent balcony that runs along almost the entire width of the house.

The full-height glazed sliding systems create a sort of longitudinal visual axis that connects all rooms in a row. One can descend the single-flight staircase to the shared living area on the lower floor, which consists of a large living room and dining area, an open kitchen, a fireplace, and a library.

The external wall of the house on the street-oriented side transitions on the lower floor into a white plastered back wall of the common living space, enlivened by a piece of artwork and forming a backdrop for the self-supporting staircase. The rooms of the house behind this wall are then entirely sunk into the ground. Connected to the open common living space is another zone offering a bit more privacy, where the library, a room for watching television, and an office are located, while the fireplace in the wall can be used from both sides. Other more enclosed rooms are directly connected to the kitchen, such as the technical area and the guest and children's bedrooms, which also have views of the garden thanks to generous glazing.

The interior is illuminated from outside even in the evening

Maximum brightness has been achieved through glazed elements that extend from floor to ceiling, with the floor and ceiling profiles being concealed, so the barriers between the interior and exterior are visually and spatially removed. Daylight can flow freely into the rooms, while the projecting roof and cantilevered balconies provide structural shading from the sun and alter the light level of the interior. A skylight in the roof allows light to fall onto the staircase and the back wall, penetrating down into the shared living space.

The level and intensity of transparency can be regulated as needed. Sun protection is provided not only by external shading elements but also by lightweight white curtains placed in front of the glass on its inner side, acting as a diffusing filter. The feeling of natural light can be recreated in the evening as well through artificial lighting combined with the glazed facade and lights embedded in the floor that illuminate the house from the outside.

Concealed profiles of Schüco systems with triple insulating glazing contribute to thermal comfort

All glazed areas have been designed with Schüco aluminum systems that offer flexible opening options. The Schüco ASS 77 PD.SI sliding system was used in a highly insulated version with triple insulating glazing. The ceiling and floor profiles of these 2.95-meter tall units were installed in such a way that they are concealed, leaving only the thin central columns and vertical profiles of the sliding units visible. This resulted in large transparent areas of the facade without visible horizontal frames, divided only by a few very narrow vertical structural elements. The units measuring 7.98 m, 2.70 m, and 5.35 m are installed across the entire width of the ground floor along the balcony. On the lower floor, which provides access to the garden and side terrace, the total length of the glazing is 32.5 m – divided into five elements of varying widths. For optimal user comfort, the sliding systems are equipped with a motor drive that allows for touchless opening and closing.

The energy-efficient house features underfloor heating with summer cooling function

The sustainable energy concept is based on a well-insulated building envelope, consisting of load-bearing masonry, mineral wool insulation, a ventilated cavity, and a cladding strip. The budget included the gain of solar heat in cooler months achieved through glazing. Sun shading in warmer months is ensured by various structural elements, especially the balcony and various projecting parts, as well as internal and external sun screens. Fresh air is supplied to the living spaces through ventilation, while outgoing air is automatically extracted from adjacent rooms, such as the bathroom.

A key element of the energy-efficient house technology is underfloor heating with summer cooling function, using a ground-source heat pump for heating. Natural support for this heating system is provided by solar heating as well as rooftop photovoltaics with solar storage panels.

Project details

Project title: Family House in Southern Germany
Architect: Harter + Kanzler & Partner Freie Architekten BDA – PartG mbB, Freiburg - www.harter-kanzler.de
Project leader: Claudia Heers
Construction manager: Willi Vollmer
Metal construction contractor: Haser Metallbau GmbH, Haslach im Kinzigtal
Completion: March 2018

Schüco systems used in the project
Sliding systems Schüco ASS 77 PD.SI
Nine system units ranging from 3.92 m to 11.6 m in length; unit height 2.95 m
Specific features: Motor drive for sliding systems

Photographs: Olaf Herzog – www.olafherzog.de