alex lehnerer's rühlstrasse house introduces curving concrete to bavaria

architect alex lehnerer has completed the ‘rühlstrasse house’ at the edge of a bavarian forest, realized with sculpturally cast concrete. the surrounding context is characterized by typical 1960s-era bungalow style dwellings in which program is consolidated entirely along a single level enclosed by a large, partly occupiable roof. before the renovation project was carried out, the existing structure stood as a continuation of this type. the dwelling’s hipped roof and low eaves, typical of the area, could be read from the interior as a dramatically sloped ceiling.

all images by tobias wootton

the team at alex lehnerer architekten exaggerates the dramatic, low eaves of the rühlstrasse house as a horizontal element to frame the verticality of the neighboring forest. the interior is organized with an open floor plan along the ground level to host shared spaces, surrounded by three children’s bedrooms. the master bedroom is situated along the second level, within the occupiable roof. this compact upper space has been opened to natural sunlight with full-height glazing, following the angle of the roof slope. 

the house is constructed with gently curving elements of in-situ concrete. the faceted roof structure floats lightly atop these rounded concrete partitions. a slightly inclined stair serves as the central, most concentrated moment of the house, with its sweeping corner gently intersecting the adjacent curved surface, forming a moment of confluence. bordered by a fifteen meter-long joist along its front face, the stair serves further as an important structural element, supporting the upper floor. 

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project info:

project title: rühlstrasse house

architecture: alex lehnerer architekten

location: bavaria, germany

photography: tobias wootton