Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Nestled in the idyllic natural landscape of Lower Saxony, the converted house with an adjacent longhouse offer plenty of space for get-togethers and memorable moments. Family life is everything here. The main house is where the family meets: With an open-plan kitchen and living room that extend seamlessly into the conservatory and out into the outside space thanks to a retractable façade, an inviting ambience is created. The central dining area acts as a hub where everything comes together: vertically, as the air space above the dining table emphasises the room height and opens up new visual relations, but also within the space, as this is where everyone comes together to eat. While the adults enjoy their after-dinner conversations, the children can get creative in the play corner. A kaleidoscope-like glass mosaic window in shades of green and blue bathes this niche in a special light, creating a separate, small world for big plans. The grandchildren also have their own personal realm and shared space to conquer on the upper floors. Relaxing oases of calm can also be found there: the grandparents’ bedroom as well as two suites for well-travelled guests.

When the whole family comes together, the three studios in the longhouse provide additional overnight accommodation. This smaller building is primarily intended as an individual retreat and offers space for wellness, sport, games and concentrated work. The area between the two houses is not only home to the family pool, but also opens up to the naturally landscaped garden with further opportunities to get together and outdoor spaces just waiting to be discovered – from a community seating with a fire bowl, to the birch grove, to a kitchen garden with a chicken coop and a children’s playground with a trampoline. Places have been created across the entire plot that promote togetherness, yet still leave room for freedom.

The pleasant feel of the materials, which are inspired by the surrounding natural environment, also promises a sense of connection: in place of distance, they create closeness and all have a definite tactile quality – be it in the grain of the wooden surfaces and slats, in the natural flow of the textiles, the delicacy of the marble or the depth of the small wall tiles. The materials emphasise that this home is no austere place, but one in which the lively energy of encounter is kept in perfect balance: by people and characters as well as by materials and objects. The subtle, warm-toned and carefully coordinated overall composition is complemented by exciting accents: sculptural fixtures such as the kitchen island, expressive furniture and lights, and personal mementos on open steel shelves that characterise the living space. The result is a lively yet cosy home harbour for the whole family.