Location: Mecrbusch. Germany Year of construction: 1998 Architects: During. Dahmen, Joeressen Photography: Manas Me/sen
Ingenuity is the basic ingredient of House Schickert. Wolfgang Doring responds intelligently and subtly to both what was already there and the requirements of the project. He surprises with specific mechanisms that not only develop the virtues of the design, but also reduce the disadvantages of the plot.
At first sight, the house looks like a typical single-family residence: a conventional design within a simple contemporary building surrounded by a generous yard. The design details turn the house into a collection of "architectural winks” conceived for the delight of the occupants.
The main objective was to close those inside off, with their backs turned on the outside, in a private space full of esthetic and constructive distractions designed for the comfort of the occupants. To achieve this, some of the windows are of restricted height so that an observer sitting in the dining room can see only images of the yard.
The way in which the house is built is strictly organized: light, insulating blocks combine with the expansive windows and the metal framework supporting the terrace level. The yard design completes a house that claims to be a reflection of the lifestyle of its occupants and the true freedom of light and space.
The museum-like interior houses several works of art and the surface finishes are clean and elegant. The windows and reflections play a very important role in the perception of the house.
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Previous pages: The pond is bounded by a polished black granite wall that appears to have no purpose other than the purely esthetic. Doring provides yet another surprise here, because it is nothing but a way of being able to see a reflection of the fish in the pond from the living room. |
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Access to the building from the street on the nortli side is by a rectangular patio. This first open space acts like a screen between the public urban space and the privacy of the dwelling. |