Atelier ST, led by architect couple Silvia Schellenberg-Thaut and Sebastian Thaut, has created a remarkable family residence in Berlin-Westend that masterfully bridges the gap between historical architectural traditions and contemporary living. The home, designed for a family with four daughters aged 3 to 13, appears as though it has been part of this luxury village setting between Grunewald and the Avus highway for a century.
The nearly square-shaped new construction draws inspiration from the forest settlement typology conceived by architects Max and Bruno Taut starting in 1920. Wrapped in deep green mineral plaster, the building seamlessly blends with the existing canopy of old forest pines, oak trees, and maples. The quiet tent roof, made of dark patinated ceramic stones, reflects familiar architectural elements from the surrounding neighborhood while maintaining respect for the natural environment.
While the exterior pays homage to traditional design, the interior reveals striking modernity and sustainability. All interior walls, ceilings, and built-in elements are constructed from wood, creating an atmosphere as if the trees themselves had transformed to form a home. The light wooden palette is dramatically contrasted by a poured asphalt floor - an urban material choice requested by the homeowners that the architects presented alongside terrazzo as an alternative.
The home's heating system exemplifies the family's commitment to sustainable living through a custom water-heated continuous-burn stove that feeds underfloor heating throughout the house. As the homeowner explains, "The heating specialist told us: 'This is medieval - and work for you!' But we love this special warmth." The firewood comes from beech and oak trees that had to be removed during construction, stored in the partial basement. The architects prepared for a future heat pump installation, though solar panels proved challenging due to the many tree crowns.
The 560-square-meter plot had never been developed before and was essentially wild growth. The homeowner spent months painstakingly tracking down heirs scattered around the world before the purchase could be completed. The property features a deep front garden facing the street, maintaining the area's characteristic relationship between built and natural environments.
Inside, the home showcases airy room heights and minimal furnishing with carefully selected special pieces. The living area centers around a fireplace sculpture with an integrated seating bench, opposite a robust ten-year-old no-name sofa chosen for its family-friendly durability. Three steps elevate this separate living area above the cooking and dining space, which boasts a wonderful 3.4-meter ceiling height. The custom dining table, crafted by a Brandenburg carpenter from old oak wood, anchors the space alongside a large kelim rug from a specialized carpet shop in Kreuzberg.
Massive glass doors, extending up to 4.85 meters in width, open the dining area eastward to the terrace and southward to maximize natural light and garden views. The kitchen, designed by Atelier ST, features a premium Rocket espresso machine positioned before a wide panoramic window overlooking the quiet street, protected by a newly planted wild fruit hedge. The terrace uses classic hand-molded paving stones, but installed upright rather than flat - an innovative interpretation suggested by the homeowner's husband using bricks manufactured in Lower Saxony.
Architectural details throughout the ground floor include window openings in circular, semicircular, and structured rectangular forms that playfully reference Art Deco elements popular during the settlement's creation period. The semicircular motif continues in the gently cantilevered upper floors, where all interior doors are crowned with arches made from black-stained oak. The first floor contains four rooms for the children and work spaces, with two to three windows per room providing views into the greenery.
The roof level houses the parents' bedroom and a guest room, with two shower bathrooms completing the structure. The family considered bathtubs unnecessary for their lifestyle. In the parents' bathroom, the daughters chose the color of the mosaic tiles, adding a personal family touch to the design. The guest room in the attic features dramatically staged natural lighting that creates an impressive spatial experience.
The historic Eichkamp settlement, where this home is located, was planned by brothers Max and Bruno Taut with various colleagues from 1918 to the end of the 1920s, named after the local forestry office. Max Taut himself lived here, as did Bruno's estranged wife and her descendants until 1999. The settlement represents a significant example of early 20th-century residential planning that combined garden city principles with modernist architecture.
Atelier ST's approach of "creating new while honoring old" has been their philosophy for 20 years, and this project exemplifies their success in this balance. As architect Sebastian Thaut explains, the home draws its strength from its context, embedded among the mature trees and respecting the neighborhood's established character while introducing contemporary sustainability and living standards.
The project's success is perhaps best measured by the reactions of passersby during construction. As Thaut recalls, "At the end of the construction phase, pedestrians would often stop and say: 'Wow, what a great renovation of the old building!' That was a beautiful compliment for our studio - creating new while honoring old." This response demonstrates how successfully the architects achieved their goal of creating architecture that feels both timeless and thoroughly contemporary.
