Tucked next to a lake in the Bavarian countryside in Germany, this family house combines the rustic charm of a forest cabin with the minimalist sophistication of contemporary architecture. Zurich-based Appels Architekten designed a wedge-shape volume clad in dark-stained timber and punctuated by large rectangular windows that subtly stands out against its verdant surroundings whle at the same time feels it belongs there. The building’s sculptural sensibility is carried on inside where a trio of white-painted wooden boxes containing bedrooms hover above an open-plan communal space. In combination with the structure’s sloping roof and the strategically placed glazed openings, this simple yet clever configuration allows the public areas to unfold both horizontally and vertically, bringing in daylight deep into the house as well as directing views onto the garden and across the lake from any vantage point.

In juxtaposition with the house’s dark-stained exterior, which harmoniously blends in with its verdant surroundings, the light-toned interiors – think white-painted walls and ceilings, light grey terrazzo floors and natural wood furnishings – enhance the natural light that floods in from the floor-to-ceiling patio doors and windows as well as subtly frame the omnipresent verdant views. Hardwood floors and wood panelling add warmth in the bedrooms on the upper level, green-coloured tiling introduces refreshing touches in the small wellness area on the ground floor, while exposed concrete surfaces in the basement imbue the spaces with a bunker-like feel, albeit one filtered through minimalist sophistication.

Anchored by the fluid living area that opens up to the natural landscape, the house’s more intimate bedrooms and basement rooms encourage an effortless symbiosis between the family members, who can participate in or withdraw from communal living at any time, as well as between the family and nature.