Project size: 3,154 square feet

Program:
The clients, a family of five, asked Stuttgart-based firm, (se)arch architekten, to design a house with light-filled living spaces, connecting to a gallery space for exhibiting the family's private art collection.

Location:
The house is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in the south of Stuttgart.

Solution:
The four-story house, with a steep, double-pitch roof, is clad with cedar shingles on three sides, with bands of recessed glazing across the rear facade to the south.

The entrance, on the west side, opens to a triple-height corridor lined with artwork, where a band of clerestory windows admits ample daylight. The gallery and living spaces are separated by a poured-in-place concrete core containing the kitchen, stairs, and bathrooms. An opening midway through the gallery leads to the dining and living areas and a terrace to the south. The three children's bedrooms share a terrace on the second floor, while the master bedroom on the top floor has a private terrace. All of the bedrooms have views of the Swabian Jura mountains in the distance.

Construction methods:
The wood-frame house, with a concrete core and basement, has solar panels on the roof to supplement gas heating. Built-in furnishings, including bookshelves, doors, and cabinetry, are made of oak.