Greenkamp House

The plot is one of the last undeveloped plots in this unique ensemble. The special character of the estate, characterized by old deciduous trees, small detached houses, and an almost village-like atmosphere, despite its proximity to the ICC, can still be clearly felt here.

The immediate neighborhood is heterogeneous, combining public buildings such as daycare centers and schools with private single-family homes from different eras.

A new residential building has been created in this evolved context, which blends in respectfully and only catches the eye at second glance.

The architecture draws its quality from the location - from the old trees, the proximity to nature and the traditional typologies of the neighborhood.

The compact, almost square basic shape with a tent roof picks up on familiar proportions, but develops an independent presence as a solitary structure.

The slightly projecting upper stories create additional space and lend the building a sculptural depth.

The exterior of the house is characterized by a dark green mineral lime plaster, which allows the building to visually merge with the surrounding greenery like camouflage.

The tent roof, covered with pre-patinated dark ceramic tiles, emphasizes the undirected form and echoes the roof shapes typical of the surrounding area.

Window openings in circular, semi-circular, and high-zonal rectangular shapes playfully cite architectural elements of Art Deco, which was fashionable at the time the estate was built.

A paved forecourt welcomes visitors and provides parking spaces for cars and bicycles - a place of arrival and the threshold between public space and the private world.

Completely surprisingly, the interior of the building is a wooden shrine. This is because, contrary to what the house might suggest from the outside, it is a purely timber construction, apart from the partial basement.

This means that all the walls, ceilings, and surfaces, including the built-in furniture, are made from wood, a renewable resource. The only exception is the black mastic asphalt flooring.

This is structured with a diamond-shaped glazing bar. A design element that is continued in the inner, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.

From here, the kitchen with dining area, the 'centerpiece' of the house, is accessed via a half-floor. Generous, semi-circular window areas allow the interior and exterior spaces to merge together.

The slightly elevated living room is directly adjacent and is designed as an intimate retreat with panoramic windows: a 'salle séparée' for music, reading, or conversation.

The upper stories house bedrooms, children's rooms, and work areas - all flexibly usable, flooded with natural light, and with views of the garden and the treetops.

Single-flight staircases, galleries, and air spaces create a spatial structure that, despite its simple form, offers an unexpectedly complex internal variety.