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Waldsieversdorf, located in the Märkische Schweiz, provides the landscape framework for a house that not only occupies the site but also integrates its topography. The project responds to slope and vegetation without forcing the terrain into an artificial “building level” — an approach that radically minimises intervention, sealing, and earth movement.
An openly organised timber structure interweaves interior and exterior spaces, differentiates views toward the forest and the lake, and allows for flexible living arrangements. A centrally placed staircase assumes a dual role — it connects and separates at once, dividing the house into two autonomous units.
Structurally, the building relies on a system of point foundations and elevated supports. Rather than cutting into the slope, the load-bearing framework rests on a few precisely placed contact points. This strategy preserves root zones, reduces the volume of foundations, maintains the forest floor’s permeability, and keeps the natural surface hydrology largely intact.
The building’s form follows the contour of the terrain; its outline emerges from the interplay of load paths, sight lines, and the spacing of trees. Materially, the project follows the same logic of restraint: timber as the primary material merges visually with the surrounding forest, provides climatic moderation, and — through its high strength-to-weight ratio — enables a lightweight structure with minimal foundation needs.
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