Interior Design, Architecture, Residential DesignFlorence LMay 26, 2021HINANG HOUSEResidential Interior Design, Hinang House, Southern Germany, Architecture

HINANG HOUSE || Family Home Sitting Atop an Ancient Glacial Lake in Southern Germany

Interior Design, Architecture, Residential DesignFlorence LMay 26, 2021HINANG HOUSEResidential Interior Design, Hinang House, Southern Germany, Architecture

What would you do if you discovered a subterranean glacial lake beneath the land for your family’s proposed summer residence?

This is precisely what happened to Berlin Architect Carlos Zwick back in 2011 when he ventured to build a summer home for his family of 8 in his Allgäu homeland. When the ground started staggering during construction work, it soon became clear that something was wrong. A team of geologists shed light on the matter and confirmed the presence of a lake from the ice age 18 meters in depth located under the planned house. The glacial lake is 15 meters long and has a consistency of liquid rock sludge. To say that this posed a tremendous challenge to the team is an understatement.

The solution was to have the house made of wooden panel construction stand firmly on 24 ductile cast piles. The original idea was for Zwick and his friends to rebuild and use a former house on the property and construct a new summer cottage next to it for summer and winter vacations. However, his friends backed out of the plan and thus the vision changed. Today, instead of a cozy summer cottage one will discover a modern and urban architectural house embedded into nature with its autumnal colours of corten steel.

*The family prefers the lower floor entrance in the winter and upper floor north side entrance in the summer*

The expansive home hugs the hillside in a cozy embrace, with the lower part of its structure made from natural stone from the local Grünten stone pit. The ski cellar, guest apartment and cellar are located in the lower level. Zwick enjoys using the combined kitchen and living room along with the wooden terrace as his music room to entertain guests. The large windows are oriented to the south to take in the panoramic views of the gentle rolling hills. Here, Zwick and his brothers play loud music late into the night under a canopy of stars without fear of disturbing any neighbours.

*The double-sided glass fireplace both delineates and joins the living room and dining space*

*The panoramic windows frame the picturesque view of the Allgäu Alps*

The exterior level of the upper floor is covered entirely in corten steel, yet the interior is warm and cozy. With floor-to-ceiling windows drawing in natural light, the house is warmed by thermal energy to reduce energy consumption. During the winter months, the double-side glass fireplace crackles to warm up the family as they are gathered around the large dining table.

A wooden terrace stretches the length of the entire upper floor, framing the breathtaking view of the grassy meadow and majestic mountains beyond. All of the bedrooms in the home, including the 4 upper and 2 lower level bedrooms, are oriented to the south to take advantage of these views so the family can all wake up to this stunning view.

*The long corridor on the ground floor of the home leads to the master bedroom, where the bathroom and sleeping area merges together*

On the ground floor, a corridor leads to the bedrooms, where there are two childrens’ bedrooms as well as a flexible home office in case a family member needs some solo time to study or catch up on work while on vacation. The master bedroom lies at the end of the corridor, where the bathroom and sleeping area are merged openly, divided only by a wall that houses the sink and mirror.

*Zwick enjoys the isolated property as he can entertain late into the night without disturbing his neighbours*

At night, the family enjoys a heavenly calm. During the summer months, the sound of far off cow bells finds its way into the home through wide open terrace doors. During the winter months, heavy snow makes the journey to Hinang Village a challenge, but the isolation also means quiet and comforting solitude for the family to fully unplug. Hinang House is a hillside oasis where Zwick and his family can enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking and biking in the summer, a delightful retreat to rejuvenate one’s mind and body.

“The wide view from here to the Allgäu Alps is unique, time and time again and always different. Unimaginably beautiful and sometimes almost unreal, as picturesque as a painting”

— Carlos Zwick