A Residential Project in Eichkamp Redefining the Relationship Between Urban Heritage and Nature

Urban Context of the Area

The Eichkamp district is located in western Berlin, within a unique setting that bridges the historic Grunewald Forest and the old AVUS route. Originally designed by Bruno Taut in the early 1920s, the suburb was envisioned as a forested residential area characterized by tranquility and integration with nature. Over time, some plots remained undeveloped, including the one addressed in this text.

Distinctive Features of Eichkamp

The district retains its unique character, with mature broadleaf trees scattered throughout and surrounded by small detached houses that evoke a rural-like atmosphere, despite its proximity to the International Congress Center (ICC). A clear urban diversity is evident in the surrounding residential areas, combining public buildings such as kindergartens and schools with private houses from various periods.

The New Construction Project within the Existing Fabric

Amid this evolving urban landscape, a new residential building has been established that respects its surrounding context. It is designed to integrate seamlessly into the urban fabric without imposing its presence overtly. Rather than drawing attention immediately, the building embodies values of harmony and coherence, revealing its distinctiveness only upon closer inspection of its details.

Reflections on Design Philosophy

The design seeks to leverage the historical identity of the Eichkamp district, reinterpreting it through a contemporary architectural language. Rather than merely responding to urban planning requirements, the project balances the external context with the needs of a six-member family, making it a building that reflects practical usage and everyday life.

Connection to Site and Environment

The architecture derives much of its value from the nature of the site; mature trees, the immediate proximity to the natural environment, and the traditional neighborhood typologies all contribute to the overall composition. This informed the choice of a compact, almost square form with a pyramidal roof, which relies on familiar proportions while simultaneously establishing an independent presence as a cohesive architectural volume.

Massing and Visual Depth

The subtly projecting upper stories provide additional interior space while giving the building façades a sculptural depth that creates a calm visual dimension. In this way, the building becomes a balanced addition to the urban environment, not striving to assert itself as a striking landmark, but offering a layered presence that harmonizes with the sensitivity of the site.

Delicate Architectural Balances

The design seeks a midpoint between opposing concepts:

• Community vs. Privacy
• Openness vs. Protection

Through this equilibrium, the house becomes an element that complements the ongoing development of the neighborhood without compromising its uniqueness or historical character.

Visual Integration with the Natural Environment

The building’s exterior appearance relies on a layer of dark green metal plaster, allowing it to blend with the surrounding vegetation in a manner reminiscent of camouflage. The pyramidal roof, covered with pre-aged dark ceramic tiles, further reinforces this integration, reflecting the traditional roof patterns common in the area without imposing an overt presence.

Window Language Inspired by the District’s History

The windows are presented in circular, semi-circular, and vertical rectangular forms, clearly referencing Art Deco elements popular during the period when the district emerged. This variety evokes the historical spirit of the place while offering a contemporary architectural treatment that maintains visual familiarity with the surrounding context.

Integration with Terrain and Outdoor Spaces

The building responds respectfully to the site’s topography, following the natural ground elevation, supported by half façades, balconies, and slopes that create a gradual transition between the building mass and the garden space. This design fosters a smooth connection between interior and exterior, enhancing the sense of openness to nature.

Reception Space Connecting Public and Private Realms

Visitors are welcomed into a paved courtyard that serves a dual function: it acts as a welcoming area while also accommodating designated parking for cars and bicycles. This courtyard marks the boundary between the public realm outside the house and the private world that begins behind its doors.

An Internal Surprise: Comprehensive Wooden Presence

Contrary to the calm exterior impression, the interior reveals an entirely wooden world. Except for the partial basement, the building relies on wood as the primary material for all walls, ceilings, and surfaces, including built-in furniture. This choice imparts natural warmth and reflects a conscious approach toward using renewable materials. The only contrasting element is the polished black asphalt flooring, which introduces a subtle visual contrast.

Spatial Organization Based on Light and Openness

The interior space is characterized by openness and visual permeability, while maintaining a precise organization that balances free movement with privacy. This spatial arrangement is defined through variations in floor levels, extensions of visual axes, and areas intentionally designed to provide seclusion when needed.

Luminous Entrance with Repetitive Design Details

The entrance is designed as a spacious foyer that allows abundant natural light to enter, making the approach to the house both visually and experientially comfortable. Prominent are the semi-circular double doors, divided by glass bars in a diamond pattern, serving as a key visual feature. This motif recurs in the sliding interior doors extending from floor to ceiling, creating a cohesive design language that connects different parts of the house.

Kitchen and Dining Area: The Beating Heart of the Home

The kitchen and dining area are accessed via a half-level descent from the foyer, forming together the “central piece” of the house. Wide, semi-circular windows allow visual extension toward the outdoors, enhancing the sense of connection with the garden and creating a seamless relationship between the interior and the surrounding nature.

Living Room: An Intimate Space with Slight Elevation

The slightly elevated living room, adjacent to the dining area, is designed as a serene environment for relaxation. Its panoramic windows provide expansive views, while the “salle séparée” offers a dedicated space for music, reading, or conversation, adding an additional layer of privacy and tranquility within the home.

Custom Fireplace with Dual Function

The custom-made wooden fireplace serves as a warm visual focal point within the space, complemented by seating upholstered in green fabric that reinforces the intimate atmosphere. Beyond its aesthetic role, the fireplace functions as the home’s primary heating system, operating on water-based fuel with a continuous combustion mechanism that provides stable and efficient warmth.

Upper Floors: Flexibility and Natural Light

The upper floors house the bedrooms, children’s rooms, and workspaces, designed to be flexibly used according to the family’s needs. Natural light floods these spaces, while views of the garden and treetops provide a continuous sense of connection with the surrounding nature.

Complex Spatial Structure within a Simple Form

Straight staircases, corridors, and vertical voids contribute to a coherent spatial structure, giving the building an unexpectedly complex internal variety despite the simplicity of its exterior form. These interlocking layers add visual depth and functional diversity, enriching the experience of moving through the house.

Continuation of the Arched Language

The use of rounded arches continues inside, through semi-circular interior doors crafted from black-stained oak. This reinforces a sense of stylistic harmony and creates visual continuity between floors, drawing inspiration from the district’s historical design.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The Eichkamp project provides a clear example of how to engage with historical context and the natural environment. It achieves a relative harmony with the surrounding urban fabric while making thoughtful use of the site’s topography and natural light. The choice of materials, such as wood for the interior and a metal plaster layer for the exterior, can be considered a positive aspect, reflecting attention to sustainable materials and a connection to the natural surroundings. Additionally, the open and well-lit interior spaces offer flexibility for daily use, particularly for families, making the building adaptable to different needs.

However, several potential limitations emerge when viewed from a broader perspective. While the building maintains the suburb’s calm atmosphere and avoids imposing itself overtly, it may lack strong distinguishing features or a clear definition of functions within the spaces, which could reduce the architectural legibility of the project for visitors or practitioners. Moreover, the focus on balancing openness and privacy, despite its importance, may result in a spatial layout that is complex and requires prior understanding by users to fully navigate, potentially posing challenges for intensive or multi-user scenarios.

The project can also be seen as a case study in integrating past and present within a limited-scale residential environment. The use of natural materials and flexible design provides an opportunity to explore sustainable solutions for interior expansion, while simultaneously highlighting the challenges associated with achieving clear functional organization in buildings that aim for full integration with historical and natural contexts.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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