A simple stretched cube is formed into a habitable sculpture solely by subtraction from the volume. The incisions follow design considerations and at the same time also create essential functional zoning. Typologically, the compact house will be transformed into a U-house opening to the south, which is accessed via a central axis on the ground floor as well as the first floor. An additional independant flat is located in in the basement and separately accessible from the outside. The incisions in the walls, as shown in the floor plan, can be experienced spatially and are composed partly orthogonally, partly inclined, they follow a complex direction of light, taking into account the daytimes and seasons. The formerly static cube gains dynamism and excitement. Through these design decisions as well as open room sequences and light-flooded rooms, house ES makes it possible to experience the garden and old trees in generous indoor-outdoor relationships. Different plaster structures support the sculptural form: the enveloping body without incisions was made with mineral plaster with a 3mm grain size, while the incised walls were made with very fine-grained Carrara marble plaster. House ES meets the KfW 55 standard and obtains district heating from geothermal energy. Aesthetics and sustainability are brought together according to the wishes of the client, radical minimalism right down to the details required precise craftsmanship.
Titus Bernhard has been active nationally and internationally since 1995 with his spectacular architectural projects. A concentration on the essential and a minimalistic architectural language distinguish all the work of his office, combined with the highest standards of manual and aesthetic qualities. His architecture develops from classical modernism to an autonomous phenomenological architectural language. “Haus 9×9” attracted enormous attention from areas far outside the architecture world, just as his more recent “Haus M” and “Haus 11×11”. Awards: i.a. Erich-Schelling Medal 2006, BDA Prize - Bavaria 2006, numerous best architects awards; exhibitions at AEDES Berlin 2004 & 2013, Architekturgalerie Munich; the galerie d’architecture Paris, plus two appearances at the Biennale in Venice. Titus Bernhard belongs to the young avant-garde in Germany. From 2005 to 2007, he was visiting professor for design and construction at the Constance University of Applied Sciences (HTWG Konstanz).
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