Landscaping concept

The landscaping concept is based on minimal intervention. The trees and vegetation native to the lakeshore have been maintained all the way to the road in keeping with the local biotope, which consists mainly of pine, birch, oak and ferns. The character of this biotope reflects the Brandenburg landscape and contributes to the overall atmosphere of the property. The idea was to avoid creating any artificial settings, apart from one entryway to the lake and the boat house, and allow residents to experience ‘unspoiled’ nature.

Construction

The individual sections of the building feature a compact and clear structure designed for economical construction. The basic structure of the individual building parts repeats itself. The option of later combining or dividing the flats is provided for in the basic construction. The inner support structure is designed as a solid structure. Interior walls and the walls to the corridors are realised as clay infill walls. The building envelope is planned as a timber frame construction. This mixed construction combines cost-effective building with a highly heat-insulated construction. The core of the building is component activated and serves as a heat storage device for the building. Together with the clay core (which also acts as a moisture regulator), it creates a healthy indoor climate naturally without requiring extensive building technology. The facade consists of a wooden formwork with blackboards (edge of the tree), reflecting the immediate surroundings and give the building an archaic, tactile shell. The character of the materials and vertical structure of the facade make it highly consistent with the surrounding forest. The appearance of the building changes along with the sun and the movement of the observer. This ‘building membrane’ detaches from the exterior wall by the loggias and serves as an external shading system for the building, which is augmented by the surrounding trees in the summer.

Ecology, sustainability and Cradle to Cradle

The aim of the Buddhist residential project and centre for spiritual assistance at Scharmützelsee in Bad Saarow is to create a place for people going through highly vulnerable life stages, “in times of crisis or illness, in old age, at the beginning and end of life”, where they can be offered spiritual support to guide them through their individual life situations. The site of the centre is a lakefront plot in Bad Saarow. At the beginning of the last century, Bad Saarow became a resort that was especially popular with residents from the nearby city of Berlin. Just as now, they enjoyed being close to nature. In this area, the heavily wooded, park-like plots of the villa settlement from the founding years were designed as recreation areas at the beginning of the last century. The proximity to the forest and the lake also has an effect on the overall atmosphere of the building site. The intention of this project is to provide an introspective space for visitors, where residents can walk the path to inner freedom. The overall design was guided by a respect for nature and the atmosphere of the surroundings. The centre should blend in naturally with its surroundings and interact respectfully with nature and the environment.