rhombic-shaped house wustrow near berlin redefines boathouse and barn

a weekend home out of the city

taking a break from the noise and hustle of the city means driving even past the borders of the urban space’s outskirts, far away until the vistas display a landscape of greenery. in lake plätlin, a part of the mecklenburg lake district area, the abundance of grasses and trees sprawl across the land, the perfect spot to position ‘house wustrow’ by berlin-based architects wanja wechselberger and florian kneer.

gazing upon the architectural shape of the home, the influence of geometry comes to the forefront as the dwelling forms bent shapes and sharp edges. the architects share that their design redefines the regional boathouse and barn typology and finds its references in the surrounding landscape. ‘the slightly asymmetrical, rhombic-shaped, and north-south oriented building offers shifting perspectives and views from all directions. this effect from the outside is enhanced by two differently shaped roof areas and carefully positioned windows of different sizes, an intended effect to evoke such an impression,’ the duo says.

images courtesy of andreas labes

contrasting materials and colors

from the outside, the charcoal pillars of wood create the imagery of venetian blinds in broad daylight, standing out drawn from its dark hue against the lighter shades of the environment. the giant window at the front that takes the form of the dwelling overviews the inside that contrasts the palette employed by the exterior. it also contributes to the multiplicity of the natural and in-house light overlapping and trespassing the spaces.

‘the inspiration for the elongated volume, which widens towards the center, derives from boathouses, which form an integral part of the landscape and lakes in this region. just like these barn-like buildings, the wustrow house is built as a timber-frame structure; the wall construction was prefabricated as a timber frame construction and the rear-ventilated facade is made of diagonally running bevel siding made of anthracite-colored glazed siberian larch,’ the architects share. the monochrome appearance, which lends the building its contemporary distinctness, is completed with darkly-colored aluminum window frames and roofing made out of anthracite-colored concrete tiles.

rearview towards the lake

more than a living space

stepping inside the 92 m2 vacation home, birchwood carpets the interior, contrasting its dark-hued look outside. the light surfaces generate a warm and comfortable atmosphere, reflect the light, and emphasize the open and light character of the building’s interior. this character is embodied most vividly by a two-story living room with large windows and a view of the nearby lake. the central, atrium-like space is the hub of the house where the kitchen, dining table, fireplace, and a deep seating area seek refuge.

the living space can be extended outwards by a wooden terrace that faces west and towards the lake plätlin. the ground floor also has an accessible bathroom, which is complemented by an adjoining sauna. a small, courtyard-like balcony provides views to the nearby nature reserve and directs daylight into the interior through a glass wall. ‘its open structure and the window cut-outs constantly produce new, unexpected lines of sight that underscore the connection between architecture and landscape,’ the architects comment.

side view with first-floor balcony

rear view of house wustrow

front view of house wustrow

double-height kitchen and the living space

living room with a window overviewing the lake

project info:

name: house wustrow or house by the lake
designers: WWStudio (wanja wechselberger) and LEGEER architekten (florian kneer)

year: 2020

location: lake plätlin

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edited by: matthew burgos | designboom