A narrow private road leads to the secluded entrance area, where a water feature bridges the gap between indoors and outdoors. As your feet tread across a series of stones like a floating footbridge into the house, your eyes follow the dazzling play of light reflections.

Inside, a two-storey glazed atrium welcomes us with a feeling of openness and space. The water is reflected in the glazing, making the exterior and interior appear as one.

The open kitchen forms the centre of social interaction. Floor-to-ceiling glazing opens up the view to the River Havel, while the specially designed corner bench at the cooking island is a place for the whole family to talk, laugh, learn and celebrate.

The living area extends from the main building like a glass sun deck, capturing the sun in all its moods and moods. With just one hand movement, the filigree glazing can be slid open across the corner, giving you the feeling of living outdoors. Canopies and sliding slat elements protect against heat and create fine lines of shadow and light.

Where does the outside begin and the inside end? One can only guess. But it doesn't really matter. Large glass surfaces and consistent sightlines extend the space and bring the green and blue, the lake and the light into the house.

The private retreats are located on the upper floor, while the staggered floor offers an unobstructed view of both bodies of water. There is space here for guests, sports and wellness in the generously glazed sauna, where the magnificent view alone ensures deep relaxation.

The surrounding roof terrace takes up a third of the total area and shows the special nature of this place in all its clarity: water, air, light and an unobstructed view to the horizon. Hardly any other house could embody the expression of a serene life by the water more beautifully.

That's exactly what it became: a beautiful house. Complete, clear and balanced, uncompromisingly modern, luxurious and reserved at the same time. It blends into its surroundings.

This was the second wish of the owner of the house and his wife. May their house show respect for their property above the city centre of Esslingen and still demonstrate elegance, openness and self-confidence. It nestles flat on the southern slope; nothing visually stands in the way of passers-by on the road - but from the outdoor seat on the valley side with the small maple tree in its middle, from the living and dining area and from the home office, the view from the panoramic windows extends far over the city with its proud towers and medieval half-timbered houses to the forest and mountains beyond.

Meanwhile, in the sheltered, spacious courtyard in front of the garages and on the ramp to the street, the children and their friends could curve around on go-carts, and when they become sweaty and dirty, in need of a cooldrink, they find their own entrance where they may cast their sneakers into a corner. In the garden there is still a soccer goal. When guests arrive in the evening, they enter the house through the hall, where a slim, white spiral staircase draws the eye upwards. Every spiral staircase wants to be a sculpture - this one is one!

Thus, Fuchs and Gehrmann have given their design a carefully formulated but clear sense of theatre, from public to semi-public, to private and intimate. The visitor, the children, the novel on the terrace, the evening by the fireplace: the rooms are of generous openness, the boundaries of accomplished discretion. And everywhere there is breadth and light. Outside, a goal seems to have been dropped. Should further offspring announce themselves: welcome!

Das Haus am Hang empfängt seine Bewohner im untersten Geschoss mit einem kleinen Plateau direkt neben der Zufahrt. Eine Wandscheibe weist den Weg hinein und setzt sich im offenen Eingangsbereich fort. Der Boden ist belegt mit einem warmen, rötlich-grauen Naturstein mit weißen Adern, Pietra Piasentina, und geht über einen breiten Antritt fließend in die Treppe über. Wie eine Einladung, den Fels empor zu klettern, mit nach oben zu kommen und auch den Rest des Hauses zu erkunden. Im Erdgeschoss ist der Wohnbereich hell und lichtdurchflutet wie ein Loft gestaltet, ringsum mit freiem Blick in den Garten. Neben dem vielen Grün ist auch die Küche mit ihrer gebürsteten Aluminium Oberfläche im rauchigen Champagnerton ein echter Blickfang, wie sie sich zwanglos an den offenen Essbereich anfügt.

Die Nebenräume verschwinden – wie schon in der Etage darunter – unauffällig in einem dunklen Wandschrank aus geräucherter Eiche. Im eleganten Kontrast zum zurückhaltenden Weiß der Wände und dem warmen Grau des Steinbodens, verbindet das maßgefertigte Möbelstück Unter- und Erdgeschoss und betont den zweigeschossigen Luftraum. Nach oben hin verändern sich die Materialien und mit ihnen das Wohngefühl. Eine Holztreppe führt ins Obergeschoss, wo nun nicht mehr der Stein-, sondern ein Parkettboden aus gedämpfter Eiche den Ton angibt. Im Zentrum der privaten Räume der Familie liegt die Dachterrasse wie ein Innenhof, von drei Seiten in Glas gefasst und auf der vierten Seite zum Waldrand offen. Ein roter Ahorn spendet Schatten und macht die Natur zum selbstverständlichen Teil der Architektur. Gleichzeitig öffnen die Wolkenbügel den Baukörper wie das obere Geäst eines Baumes zum Himmel hin. Der Wald, der über die umlaufenden Balkone rundum präsent ist, der weite Blick, das Licht und das natürliche Gefühl der Materialien: Wo Innen- und Außenräume aufs Schönste verschmelzen, da sind die Gedanken frei zu schweifen, dürfen die Augen auf Wanderschaft gehen, kann der Atem fließen. Durchatmen. Ankommen. Zuhausefühlen. Das an die innenliegende Terrasse nahtlos angrenzende Badezimmer greift das Grün der Baumwipfel mit einer markanten Wandscheibe aus grünem Marmor auf und lässt es fließend in den maßgefertigten Waschtisch übergehen. 

Der große Garten dient nicht nur als Spielwiese für die Kinder, sondern wurde als Außenraum von Anfang an mit geplant und gestaltet. Mit einem eigenen Essbereich, einem Beleuchtungskonzept und den aus Sichtbeton gegossenen Bänken inmitten des kleinen Kräutergartens. Von hier hat man die wohl schönste Perspektive auf Haus und Garten, kann man stolz zurückblicken – und mit der Aussicht auf viele wundervolle Momente mit der Familie und Freunden voll Vorfreude nach vorn.

Schon bei der ersten Begegnung war er da – der Wunsch der Bauherren nach einer exponierten, freischwebenden Stahltreppe. In der Stadtvilla am Rande Stuttgarts hat sie ihren Platz gefunden. Gleich beim ersten Schritt über die Schwelle fängt sie den Blick und führt ihn mit ihren filigranen schwarzen Konturen durch den dreigeschossigen Luftraum nach oben. Folgt man den mit angeräuchertem Eichenholz belegten Stahlstufen, wird man im Obergeschoss von einer extrovertierten Wandscheibe in Mailänder Naturstein im grosszügigen Wohn-Essbereich empfangen. Am Boden liegt das gleiche warmtonige Eichenparkett, das im angenehmen Kontrast zu den weiß verputzten Wänden und den eloxierten Aluminium-Oberflächen der Küchenmöbel steht. Der Wohnbereich verlängert sich über eine Terrasse im Süden nach draußen und lädt zum Blick ins Grüne ein. Ebenso wie die als offene Raumfolge arrangierten privaten Räume, werden die beiden Büros der Bauherren dank raumhoher Verglasung von Licht durchströmt – und Leben und Arbeiten können auf ganz angenehme Art fließend ineinander über gehen.

Auch von außen besticht die kubistische Stadtvilla mit ihrer klaren Linienführung und dem konsistenten Materialeinsatz. Mit Basalt und gestocktem Beton in den Zwischentönen, erzählt der Architekt die Geschichte von der harmonischen Vereinbarung scheinbarer Gegensätze in einem Dialog aus weißem Putz und schwarzem Stahl konsequent zu Ende.

At first glance, the house, located halfway up a hill in Stuttgart, surprises visitors with its unusual openness. It does not shut itself off, but welcomes the outside world from the street. This deliberately chosen proximity to people and the surroundings gives an idea of the relaxed and inviting atmosphere that prevails here. From the entrance level at street level, a clear view opens up immediately upon entering, over the spacious dining area into the garden and the magnificent panorama of the city. The ground floor is divided into two levels, with the living area slightly lowered to allow direct access to the terrace and garden. The staggered arrangement and clever use of height differences not only create exciting perspectives, but also incorporate the outdoor space from the outset.

The same openness and warmth that you feel when passing by is also reflected inside. Dark stained oak, a subtle greige paint on the walls and warm brass accents combine elegance with a cosy, homely feel. The regional Kirchheim shell limestone on the floors runs throughout – from the dining area down the stairs to the living area and from there to the terrace outside. So you could say: mission accomplished. It's not just a house that's been created, but a real home. Where children play, good conversations take place, memories are cherished and new ones are made. And where friends, family and neighbours feel welcome and like to drop by for a glass of wine.

The property is tucked away in a small hollow, which initially limits the view from Stuttgart's semi-elevated location. This is a challenge that architect Michael Gehrmann gladly accepts, transforming it into a house that lays the city at its residents' feet. The cleverly planned split-level floor plan leads visitors upstairs to the open-plan living and dining area. From here, the glass fronts and adjoining terrace offer a breathtaking panorama of the city. Back inside, the view returns to the entrance level, where the client's grey Porsche Carrera 4S Cabrio can be admired behind industrial glazing to the garage, iconic like a work of art.

Half a floor below are the bedroom with its magnificent view, the dressing room and the bathroom, separated only by black-framed industrial glass walls. Clean lines and alignments set the stage for the mix of materials, including glass, light-glazed oak and grey limestone, which lend the entire private area a pleasant calm and casual relaxation. The freestanding bathtub made of black acrylic glass is the ideal retreat for letting your gaze and thoughts wander.

The clever interplay of heights continues in the outdoor area. The pool is slightly elevated above the garden level, capturing the panorama and creating a flowing connection to the bathroom, framed by grey natural stone. With its horizontal structure, the façade rises step by step from the slope, transforming the surrounding topography from a challenge into its most beautiful strength.

Several cubes forms divide the overall square structure, which towards the south gets a floating impression due to the indented, fully glazed ground floor. Depending on one´s location and orientation, the facade with its smooth white plaster is broken up over a large area by floor-to-ceiling windows.

Access is via a generous double-volume entrance hall on the ground floor. A stair landscape - split level connects the living floor with dining area and open kitchen from the private areas on the upper floor (sleeping, master bathroom, dressing, working). The open, flowing space of the living floor is defined by a central fireplace that subtly separates the dining and cooking area from the living area. The living level has panoramic glazing to the south with floor-to-ceiling windows, from where there is direct access via a spacious outdoor terrace to the pool area. The private areas on the upper floor as an open room sequence, bedroom/bathroom/dressing area, are connected via an open gallery level with the client's office/working area. The garden floor with guest area, sauna, wellness, wine cellar + housekeeping also has a direct connection to the outside areas.

Premium-quality materials were used for the interior fittings, predominantly in tones of beige. The carpentry work (interior fittings) is custom-made and adapted to the individual needs of the owner. From the pool area on the garden level, a loose external staircase, accompanied by raised beds, leads up to the ground floor level.

Radically transparent towards the slope, elegantly closed towards the street. Only after entering the house does the geometric, almost inconspicuous-looking structure reveal the breathtaking view over the city. The simple exterior is characterised by a new interpretation of the classic hipped roof, which instead of classic roof tiles is covered with large-format aluminium panels and merges tone-in-tone with the façade. Enclosure to the street and garage cladding serve as visual protection and take up the aesthetics again. A striking slit in the elevation at the entrance area of the house gives a foretaste of the panoramic rear glass facade.

Inside, the extreme hillside location provides the basis for a room layout in which all living spaces are arranged towards the quiet, panoramic south-west side. Dark wood and light earth tones are elegantly combined with spectacular views through floor-to-ceiling glazing. The kitchen and built-in furniture were manufactured to individual design. The pool, which can be reached via stone steps embedded in the slope, respects the authentic ambience and blends almost unnoticed into the natural surroundings.

The existing topography was the starting point for the longitudinal floor plan, which creates visual references to the outside from all rooms and makes the panoramic location a natural part of the architecture. The design features an open sequence of rooms, long lines of sight and slim, elegant floor-to-ceiling glazing in the living areas create permeability and ensure flowing connections between inside and outside.

Whether from the dining area on the terrace under the old trees by the pool or from the living areas around the two-storey glazed atrium courtyard - living is oriented towards the south. Extroverted living rooms, which let the greenery into the house from all sides, face introverted bedrooms protected from view.

The use of materials follows minimalist principles: Exposed concrete, glass, steel, oak wood from South Tyrol and natural stone are combined purely and stylishly with specially manufactured built-in furniture, which acts as a flexible room divider for zoning the living areas. What is special about this project is its wholeness, in which architecture, interior design and loose furnishings merge with the surroundings to form a harmonious overall object.

Zur Straße verschlossen und blickgeschützt, zum Garten sehr offen: Die kubistische Villa begrüsst die Hausherren mit klaren Linien, starken Kontrasten und einem großen, alten Baum im Vorgarten, der zum Durchatmen einlädt. Die zentrale Eingangstür führt zunächst in einen grosszügigen Luftraum, bevor man in den offen gestalteten, lichtdurchfluteten Wohnbereich gelangt. Über eine Terrasse und ein paar Stufen erreicht man den etwas tieferliegenden Pool, der den Ausblick frei gibt.

Große Dachüberstände wirken einladend und geben dem Wohnhaus ein einheitliches Äußeres, obwohl im Obergeschoss nur dreiviertel der darunterliegenden Fläche als Wohnraum genutzt werden durften. So entstehen Luft und Licht in kleinen geschützten Innenhöfen an den Bädern.

Auch das Interior folgt der Idee des Äußeren: Klare Formen, edle Materialien, gedeckte Farben sowie moderne Einbaumöbel, kombiniert mit einer prominenten Natursteinwand, die Bezug zum Exterior nimmt und ausgewählte Holzmöbelstücke sorgen für eine ausgeprägte Harmonie.