Slideshow: the glazed walls of this pavilion-like house in southern Germany are sandwiched between a roof and plinth that mirror one another (photographs by Zooey Braun).
Completed by Stuttgart architects Werner Sobek Design, the ground floor of House D10 is raised just above the surrounding lawn, while a basement floor is concealed beneath.
A large golden door is located in the centre of the living room and slides open to reveal a hidden kitchen.
The house generates all its own heating and electricity through photovoltaic panels on the roof and a ground-sourced heat pump.
Other German houses we've featured include one with a cinema on its roof and one with a chunky timber shell.
Here's a little more text from Werner Sobek Design:
D10, Ulm/Germany
Located in Biberach an der Riss, Germany, D10 is a single-storey one-family home built in an established residential area.
A private driveway provides access to the house.
Two parallel shear walls are a distinguishing feature of the building.
Generously designed glazing serves to provide a spatial enclosure.
Protected by an extensively projecting flat roof a generously sized patio encircling the house serves to unite the indoor space with the outdoor space.
Access to the building is also gained via this patio.
The living areas are located on the ground floor, whilst the ancillary rooms are housed in the basement.
The building is adjoined on the north side by a double-garage, which can be accessed directly from the basement.
A stairway in the living room provides access inside the house.
The energy concept guarantees that all of the energy required to run the building is gained from regenerative sources.
A geothermal energy system and a highly-efficient heat pump provide the energy required to produce warm water and meet heating and cooling needs.
The entire surface of the roof is fitted with a photovoltaic system that generates more power on an annual average than the building consumes.
Architects: Werner Sobek, Stuttgart/Germany
Planning time: 2008 - 2009
Construction time: 2009 - 2011
Construction budget: not specified
Services rendered by Werner Sobek: design. object planning, structural engineering, facade planning, building service equipment and optimising energy efficiency
Client: private
