Blending In While Standing Out: The Duplex, By Atelier ST

Entering the Duplex brings the concept of ‘tough on the outside, soft on the inside’ to life, unveiling a welcoming, protective interior defined by organic shapes and surfaces. “For the project, it was essential to create something like a shell that communicates a sense of safety,” Sebastian Thaut outlines their approach. “To achieve a homey feel, we deliberately worked with smooth elements in the interior. We applied hempcrete insulation, made of hemp fibres mixed with lime, and covered it with clay plaster. This material has a sleek surface and also creates a great acoustic effect, almost like in a cave.”

Ascending the stairs in the foyer leads to the first floor of the building, where the private rooms, such as the bed- and bathrooms, are located. The floors here are crafted from oil-treated, smoked oak that radiates a warm and cosy ambiance. The circular motif finds its continuation in custom-made curved arches and passageways and meticulous details like drawers and light switches. Within the main bedroom, a rough concrete wall from the exterior makes a reappearance and, in the morning hours, serves as a canvas for the first sunbeams that filter through the opposite window. Thoughtfully chosen furniture, such as a nightstand made from a simple tree stump, nods to the adjacent forest and connects the exterior and interior through thematic consistency.

Downstairs, the natural stone Anröchter Grün was selected for the flooring in the corridor, kitchen, and living room—the spaces where the owners also welcome their guests. The smooth surfaces and the rock’s subtle grey-green hues add elegance to the area while contributing to a soft interior. The kitchen furniture, featuring a silky matte moss-green finish, picks up on this colour scheme and creates a visual connection to the surrounding nature. From here, a generous and semicircular door leads into the garden and a lush orchard.