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Nestled among pines and birches at the edge of the Sielmann Nature Landscapes in Brandenburg, the project comprises ten nature-integrated retreats—five 60 m² holiday houses and five 50 m² weekend houses. The placement follows the logic of the forest, creating a balanced coexistence of built structures and nature.
The houses reinterpret simple forest cabins, extending functions into outdoor terraces that act as a “third zone” between inside and outside. Large, parallel windows bring daylight deep into the compact volumes and establish a direct visual and tactile connection to the surroundings. Wide roof overhangs provide weather-protected transitions, while a central pellet stove consolidates building services and creates a spatial focal point. Sleeping nooks with darkenable interior windows establish a hierarchy between private and communal spaces.
The buildings use formaldehyde-free spruce for low-emission, breathable, and capillary-active walls. Prefabricated elements reduce construction time, transport, and site impact. Aluminium corrugated roofs ensure durability and low maintenance, while ventilated timber façades act as protective layers, ageing naturally and shielded by overhangs. Screw pile foundations preserve soil, water balance, and root zones, while passive strategies minimise technical systems.
The houses translate forest dynamics into daily experience—light, sound, and materiality form part of the spatial experience. The architecture acts as a moderating framework, integrating seamlessly with nature while protecting and enhancing its processes.
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