Location: Munich, Germany.

Architect: Powerhouse.

Villa B combines the robustness of the classical townhouse with the elegance and openness of the modernist bungalow. The plan is ‘Loosian’ and classic in its layout, with a large central entrance and secondary functions. Towards the garden, the plan opens up into a series of glazed rooms that stretch out asymmetrically into the garden. Services are located in the mid-section of the building, and the logic of a coherent sequence from darker to lighter spaces is enhanced through a spatial sequence which ends in the large balconies with a river view. The garage is designed as a large room with unconventional materials for its purpose: wooded walls and a natural stone floor.

The house is a symmetrical, imposing and monumental volume, structured in vertical slabs of ‘livre ouvert’ natural stone with fine brass lining. It is entirely closed except for the solid patinated brass entrance doors and four marble panels on the first floor. The facade is fully horizontal, with transparent surfaces and opaque bands soaring into large overhangs overlooking the garden. The palette of materials for the exterior is limited to brass, glass and bronze Amani. The detailing of the facade is kept extremely clear in its lines and expressions, removing any element that suggests mechanical or technical movement.

The clarity and monumentality of the facade facing the street mean that the house doesn’t require a wall and gate for privacy. The garden is designed as a lush, natural string of trees and bushes that create an array of natural green spaces around the house.