Snapshot: From afar, it might appear as though Timber House is two twin houses sitting side by side on an endless field in rural Bavaria, but Kuhnlein Architektur show us that looks can be deceiving. Simplistic in form and appearance, Timber House is a complex structure that takes into account the beautiful rural surroundings of the Jura Plateau in its craft.

The twin structures each serve a purpose: one comprises the living area and the other has two bedrooms. Bridging the two perfectly “house” shaped building could have just served that simple purpose, but instead Kuhnlein Architektur devised a way for it to create two vistas to the Bavarian field in the form of dual yards.

“The combination creates two yards; one becomes the space you pass by as you enter the house from the street, while the other is a terrace oriented towards the wide landscape.”

— Michael Kuhnlein Jr.

From the outside, the windows are cleverly hidden by untreated larch strips that eventually turn gray with time, a change the designers planned long-term to create a dynamic contrast with the light brown wooden beams that make up the rest of the house. They also help create a sense of privacy while allowing light to flow into the house.

You might notice there are no rafters or steel components holding the structure together. By using cross-laminated timber, Kuhnlein Architektur designed an open space that doesn’t require rafters or a burdening foundation. Timber House functions as an economic and minimalist structure that’s simply crafted from the material it flourishes.

Going inside, the space is just as bright as the rest of the house and captures the open feel of the pastoral landscape. Giant windows bring in light to bestow the muted, natural colors of the house with the verdant green and sky blue palette of the outdoors. Most of the furniture is made from the very same wood that the house consists of, creating a wholesome, consistent feel that articulates a sense of comfort and congruence.

The fireplace, furniture, and even electrical switches and sockets were designed by Kuhnlein Architektur to perfectly fit the nature of Timber House. Keeping in touch with the warm colors of the house, the switches and lighting fixtures are milled from copper to establish the ultimate sense of coziness.