The guiding principle for the design of “Camouflage House”, also known as House 10x10, is the idea that the house continuously changes its appearance over the course of the day and seasons, offering itself to the surrounding nature as a reflective surface and at times appearing to dissolve. The flush-fitting skin made of 0.8 mm thin, 3D-shaped stainless-steel sheets extends over all six surfaces - four façades and two roof surfaces. In the areas directly exposed to the sun, the surface is matt blasted to minimize reflections and burning glass effects. On the north side and in areas shaded by the natural greenery, the façade is mirror polished. The complex and structurally extremely demanding design required a holistic process of planning, production and implementation.
Situated on a green southwestern slope, the archetypal pitched roof house with a twisted ridge pays homage to the landscape and light. The stainless-steel shell of the recessed building reflects the lush greenery and light of the surroundings. Large windows direct the view to the greenery, away from the street and neighbouring houses, and emphasize the connection to nature. The dissolution of its appearance into the natural surroundings and the constantly changing times of day and seasons is the guiding theme of the house.
Designed as a low-energy house, the house relies exclusively on environmental energy. The house is equipped with a 14-kW air heat pump to minimize both operating costs and the operational CO2 footprint. The highly efficient façade and carefully planned openings protect the house from high thermal losses in winter and solar gain in summer. In short: maximum comfort with minimum use of technology. In addition, the entire building is characterized by the absence of any composite building materials. This not only means that the building can be easily refurbished at the end of its life cycle but also a possible recycling rate of 83.7%.
A staircase leads up to the entrance from the street along the garage, which is finished in high-quality exposed concrete. Furthermore, the light timber frame construction of the upper floors rises from the solid concrete base. The sustainable timber construction was filled with 240 mm mineral wool insulation. Excellent thermal insulation of 0,14 W/(m²K) was achieved. The installation level, clad with a gypsum fiber board, ensures the necessary flexibility for all electrical installations. Also, the ventilated façade supports the building's moisture and heat protection. The compact interior is spread over 200 square meters throughout three levels. Open, airy room sequences allow views between the different floors. The twisted ridge and the resulting asymmetrical roof surfaces ensure, that the sculptural character of the home can also be experienced from the inside. This is emphasized by light, flooding the space through strategically placed openings. The windows are positioned to hide unattractive elements of the surroundings while framing beautiful trees and other elements with so-called “window passepartouts”. A childless couple inhabits this sensual and functional sculpture, characterized by the constantly changing interplay of light and shadow.
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Titus Bernhard has been active nationally and internationally since 1995 with his spectacular architectural projects. A concentration on the essential and a minimalistic architectural language distinguish all the work of his office, combined with the highest standards of manual and aesthetic qualities. His architecture develops from classical modernism to an autonomous phenomenological architectural language. “Haus 9×9” attracted enormous attention from areas far outside the architecture world, just as his more recent “Haus M” and “Haus 11×11”. Awards: i.a. Erich-Schelling Medal 2006, BDA Prize - Bavaria 2006, numerous best architects awards; exhibitions at AEDES Berlin 2004 & 2013, Architekturgalerie Munich; the galerie d’architecture Paris, plus two appearances at the Biennale in Venice. Titus Bernhard belongs to the young avant-garde in Germany. From 2005 to 2007, he was visiting professor for design and construction at the Constance University of Applied Sciences (HTWG Konstanz).