‘haus w’ by kraus schönberg architects in hamburg, germany all images courtesy kraus schönberg architects image © ioana marinescu

‘haus w’ by london-based practice kraus schönberg architects is a private, low-energy dwelling for a young couple and their two children in hamburg, germany. conceived as an affordable prefabricated project, the house is composed of two parts – an upper and lower level – that seeks to connect the interior space together while engaging with the surrounding lush site through a transparent gap that wraps around the residence at ground level.

kraus schönberg architects: haus w exterior view image © kraus schönberg architects

situated on a green plot surrounded by mature trees, the house is relatively simple in its rectangular volume but gains a dynamic identity through various excising of its facade: a collection of large and small square-shaped windows puncture the elevations while a strip of glazing circumscribes around the base of the house. changing in its height and width, the continuous window creates the illusion of a hovering white house. though partially inserted into the ground, the treatment provides a large level of sunlight into the interior as well as an eye-level view towards the garden.

kraus schönberg architects: haus w entrance image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w looking into living space image © kraus schönberg architects

pivoting around an inner atrium, the programs are pragmatically arranged between two levels: the communal space is located on the ground floor while the higher level accommodates the bedrooms, bathrooms, and childrens’ area. the heights of these programs have been altered to correspond with their individual functions, resulting in an arrangement of staggered volumes that gain definition without partitions. the inhabitants remain connected through a series of internal windows that look out onto the atrium and different areas of the residence.

kraus schönberg architects: haus w interior view image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w view of garden image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w ceiling composed of staggered volumes image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w inner atrium image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w views of multi-storey bookshelf images © ioana marinescu

kraus schönberg architects: haus w internal windows connecting views image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w looking onto children’s room and level below image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w night view image © kraus schönberg architects

kraus schönberg architects: haus w diagrams and sketches

kraus schönberg architects: haus w physical model

kraus schönberg architects: haus w section

kraus schönberg architects: haus w section

project info:

gross floor area: 130 m2 structural engineer: werner sobek engineering main contractor: holzbau pagels