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On a peninsular in Berlin, architects Clarke and Kuhn realised a truly special building project: a free-standing private house with separate self-contained apartment that is situated amongst the town houses of a popular residential area. The building owners attached particular importance to forward-looking planning: right from the start, they wanted to make sure that they could grow old in and with the house.
In close cooperation with the owners, Clarke and Kuhn created an individual, sustainable architecture featuring a superior urban design in keeping with its core values.

The clear cube comprising four full storeys and one penthouse meets all the strict requirements for urban buildings: it picks up design elements from the neighbouring apartment buildings and blends harmoniously into the surroundings. Whilst the solid construction appears closed towards the street and the neighbouring plots, the façade opens up to the south and affords a clear view of the Spree. Recesses and indentations in the building create space for entrances, loggias and terraces and generate a visual tension.

As a vapour-permeable low-energy house, the AST house supports the sustainability concept. It was one of the first residential buildings in Berlin to be built with poroton blocks filled with perlite. Low construction and operating costs, as well as the use of recyclable and renewable materials, highlight the ecological claim. Underfloor heating based on high efficiency gas boilers creates warmth and solar panels on the roof generate the power to supply all the hot water for the entire building, including the swimming pool on the ground floor.

The durability and quality of the materials is much more important than their reusability. For this reason, the architects restricted themselves to a few, high-quality materials, and used them throughout all living areas: grey basaltina natural stone for floors and wall coverings, real-wood parquet made of moisture-resistant hardwood and customised wooden built-in units are designed for permanence and, over time, become even more attractive. Weatherproof, eloxat-coated aluminium windows underline the elegant feel of the interior finishings.

In order to meet the owners’ wishes for a residence that would be suitable for them in old age, the whole building was planned as a disabled-friendly construction and is closely based on DIN 18030E. An elevator with six stops links the individual storeys, from the cellar to the penthouse. The installation of the elevator allowed for the separation of the house into separate storeys should this be required at a later date. The floor plans are kept flexible so that the building can be adapted to different circumstances and requirements by adding a few built-in components. In this way, the spacious one-family house with swimming pool and sauna, living area covering two storeys, self-contained apartment and separate penthouse can be easily converted into a fully functional, multiple dwelling that is suitable for disabled access.

The elevator, the barrier-free doors that are wide enough for wheelchairs and the generously proportioned traffic routes ensure unhindered access to the (potential) individual residential units and guarantee wheelchair users good freedom of movement. The demand for barrier-free residential units also makes special requirements of the design of the sanitary rooms: in the spacious, easily accessible shower areas that are flush with the floor, showering is a true pleasure. Sturdy handles are a safety aid, if required. The equipment to mount them is already provided in all bathrooms.
By opting for the just 165 mm high Vero washbasin from Duravit, Clarke and Kuhn decided in favour of a wheelchair-accessible model that meets the architects’ high requirements for a clear, straight-lined design that is close to the standard for barrier-free washbasins. Both the wall-mounted and the console versions of Vero are installed in the AST house. On the strength of its simple basic form, the bidet from the Starck 3 range is a great complement to the rectangular washbasin. The architects chose the wall-mounted WC for wheelchair users from the Architec range that, with a projection of 700 mm, is barrier-free in accordance with DIN 18024.

In the sanitary rooms, great importance was attached to avoiding any impression of a sterile clinical environment whilst offering all the necessary functions. The use of the same materials as in the living area also communicates a visual impression of flowing, barrier-free solutions and the specially made built-in wooden furniture creates a sense of comfort. The moisture-resistant hardwood in the living bathroom in the penthouse is used as floor covering and as wall and bathtub panelling.
The user can lie back in the comfort of the Starck built-in bath, which is also fitted with a whirl system and neck support, whilst enjoying the view through the built-in window across the living area to the surroundings outside. An attractive prospect for old age!

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