MAISON PRIVÉE

Built in Königshardt, an airy residential district in the German city of Oberhausen, that lies in the heart of the Ruhr, the villa designed by German practice Engelshove Architekten redefines traditional rationalist standards through a minimalist language that pays meticulous attention to detail. The main body of the two-storey building, crowned with a classic flat roof, is composed of a series of primary shapes: a play of rectangular boxes in which solid portions of concrete with a rigorously white finish alternate with large, fullheight areas of glazing that flood the interiors with natural light, opening them onto the garden. Volumes are set back at the upper level in a carefully calibrated way, which augments compositional dynamism and creates large terraces overlooking the green surroundings.

Fluid interaction between the spaces is present in every part of the house, starting with the double- height entrance area that extends to generate a series of perspectives and transitional spaces, such as the outdoor patio stretched along the swimming pool. The sense of permeability of the building envelope is reiterated inside the living spaces, defined by an open arrangement of different environments giving a feeling of free movement in all directions. In terms of planning and circulation the design maintains a strongly rational imprint: ground floor is divided into two areas: one is the kitchen-dining-living room unit, on the other the spa with associated areas. Luminosity and a sense of continuity between exterior and interior are also accentuated by the combination of materials, finishes and furnishings.

Text by Guido Musante - curtesy of Domus