Summerhouse in Brandenburg is a 1,162-square-foot project by architect Doris Schäffler. Located near Lake Scharmützel, Diensdorf, Germany, the house was completed in 2010 for a family who wanted a nice summer retreat, away from their every day city life.
The owners live in a flat in downtown Berlin and are not interested in moving to the suburbs. They only wanted a place to go to whenever they needed to unwind and relax, so they asked for a simple contemporary dwelling that would contrast completely with their home in the city. They also wanted their new house to have a minimum impact on the landscape and to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
Schäffler managed to create a house that can “interact with but not impose upon the environment”. Inside, the rooms contrast with the owners’ urban home by being very small, except for the open kitchen and the living room. Even though they are very reduced in size, their floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors make the rooms seem quite spacious. Also, each room has direct access to the outdoors. They open towards long covered terraces, protected both by the rain and by the burning summer sun.
The house was made only with renewable and recyclable wood, and all its surfaces are clad in pale pine, including the bathroom. The owners wanted to keep their summer dwelling open for guests, so the bedrooms have berth-like attachable beds. They are very flexible and can become single, double or bunk beds, according to the guest’s needs.
