ark1

a hard shell, a soft core.

design

a square volume is symbolically lifted from the ground and tilted diagonally towards the sun. the incline draws daylight deep inside through a roof opening while shielding against the prevailing western winds — geometry and climate response converge in a single, clearly legible volume.

all public areas — living, dining, cooking — connect to the atrium in a continuous loop; private rooms such as bedrooms and children's rooms sit separately. outwardly the house stays deliberately introverted: the link to the landscape comes not through maximum transparency but through curated views. beneath the sloped roof, a layered spatial landscape unfolds — double-height areas, raised ceilings and a terrace.

construction

structure, walls and floors are made entirely of cross-laminated timber (clt) — chosen for its high degree of prefabrication, precise dimensional accuracy, short assembly time and significantly reduced ecological footprint. inside, the timber remains largely exposed, carrying warmth, texture and atmosphere.

from the offcuts of the clt production, a bespoke dining table and a kitchen island around three metres long were crafted — upcycling as an attitude towards resources and the circular economy.

energy

heating and cooling run entirely on a ground-source heat pump combined with concrete-core activation: a purpose-sized concrete build-up replaces screed and flooring and acts as a thermal store. the result is even radiant warmth in winter and passive cooling in summer — highly efficient, durable and low in running costs.