Architect Simon Kochhan in collaboration with Florian Baller have completed House HSBW, a residential project in Heidelberg’s historic Weststadt district that uses a distinct, material-led approach to negotiate a complex urban wedge-shaped plot. Situated on a tricky threshold between the solemn Bergfriedhof cemetery and an active railway line, the home successfully balances the need for a strong street presence with essential domestic privacy, setting a new benchmark for Heidelberg architecture.
The composition is fundamentally binary, articulated through two strongly differentiated volumes. The base is defined by a single-storey plinth, soberly clad in vertical timber boarding, which firmly roots the structure. Above this, the principal living volume is distinguished by a contrasting silver standing-seam metal cladding—an overhanging element that gives the house its unique profile and urban edge. This material duality is key to the home’s immediate aesthetic impact.
Kochhan strategically shaped the building to respond to its immediate surroundings. The western end, facing the street intersection, is gently rounded, creating a continuous eave line that allows the building to flow smoothly into the public realm. In contrast, the eastern façade features a rendered finish with a subtly accentuated entrance, providing a more reserved transition to the adjacent residential buildings. This thoughtful negotiation of context defines the site-specific design.
Inside, the home moves away from any perceived symmetry, embracing a deliberately asymmetric spatial sequence. The circulation is defined by carefully framed openings, ensuring daylight penetrates deep into the core of the plan. Public, communal areas are situated on the slightly sunken ground floor, while the more compact and private rooms are efficiently organised upstairs. Crucially, two double-height spaces slice through the core, establishing vital visual and spatial connections between the levels.
Structurally, the house foregrounds sustainable architecture. It employs timber frame construction supplemented with recycled insulation and wood fibre boards. The interior materiality is grounded by an exposed concrete base and a sleek polished screed floor. Pops of colour and refined craftsmanship emerge in the blue-painted steel elements, including a meticulously handcrafted spiral staircase that is arguably the home’s defining interior gesture.
This commitment to responsible construction extends to resource-efficient operation. House HSBW integrates an air-source heat pump, a photovoltaic system, and a rainwater storage tank. Even the garden sees a commitment to material reuse, incorporating elements from the site’s past, including a historic gravestone slab repurposed as a sculptural focal point. Simon Kochhan’s design is a testament to structural clarity and sensitive material use, providing a compelling and sophisticated contemporary approach to urban living.