The Black House: The Dark Beauty of Wolfhagen
The Black House is located on the outskirts of the Hessian municipality of Wolfhagen in Germany. It consists of two storeys and is situated in the southwest area. The house measures 16 meters in length and 6 meters in width. It only took 7 months to build, from March to October 2019.
The outer wall is made of a 160 mm wooden frame structure, with functional indoor insulation by ISOFLOC, doubled with 60mm wooden soft fiber board by Pavatex. On the inside, the walls are made with 40 mm OSB panels. The roof is constructed in the same workframe, for which a flat concrete brick has been designed as a covering.
Dark shades emphasize the clear-cut shapes and details of the house. Made of local larch wood, the entire facade is coated with dark grey paint that lifts that natural texture and rawness of the larch planks used. The central positioning of the structure was strategic in making its composition compact and elongated, achieving cost-effectiveness in its construction.
Ground floor
You can access the house through an entrance from the east side, which was also defined by a concrete landing. The entrance door was also made of larch wood and painted grey-glazed, with visible grain. Along the hallway are the side rooms which are for housekeeping, the pantry and the bathroom. In the western area, the house opens up through the hallway to a spacious living, dining and cooking areas, which are supplied with natural light by two generous and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass elements. The polished concrete floor gives the living room an industrial touch, which in turn harmonizes perfectly with the high wooden ceiling.
The ceiling consists of massive laminated 200 mm timber elements were constructed accordingly. Done with brackets on the large sliding installations, which are also made of wood. Articulated in white-painted walls, the ground floor defines a minimalist yet creates a pleasant vibe. An open, steel wood staircase leads to the private area on the upper floor.
Upper floor
Featuring an extended stairwell, the adjacent open area create a bright office space, which allows for natural sunlight to stream in. Along the hallway are the master bedrooms, two children’s rooms and a master bathroom.
External installations
The larch wooden terraces can be accessed through the sliding full height glass elements in the south and the east that create a smooth transition between the interior and the exterior of the house.
Designed by Architects Nina and Michael Bohl
Photos from Architect Michael Bohl
