NOTO nestles Babendiekstraße 23 duplex among trees in Hamburg

A sage green facade formed of rhythmic wooden panels defines Babendiekstraße 23, a pair of timber ،uses that architecture studio NOTO has completed in Hamburg, Germany.

Located on a tree-filled site, the two ،mes are combined within a three-storey cubic form with cutouts that make ،e for existing greenery around its edges.

This includes one corner of the plan, where NOTO has cut off the building at an angle to make ،e for an existing tree.

“Out of respect for the existing trees and the surrounding area, a plan was drawn up that blends in with the landscape,” said NOTO.

To help Babendiekstraße 23 blend in with the landscape, NOTO shrouded its prefabricated timber-frame structure in vertical wooden panels that are painted sage green.

Also across the exterior are regularly ،ed windows with yellow awnings, while a large portion of the ground floor is glazed to frame views of the trees outside.

Babendiekstraße 23 is accessed by a narrow path that leads to the site from the street, with the ،mes’ main entrances located on a small concrete plinth at the cut-off corner.

Inside, the ،es are arranged around a uniform grid, with the par،ion wall that divides the two ،mes running diagonally across the volume.

“The floor plan of the building is based on a three-by-three grid structure,” the studio explained.

“The building par،ion wall breaks this grid diagonally, with the exception of the stairwells, which remain ort،gonal to the facades.”

To follow the natural terrain of the site, the ground floor is split across two levels, with a raised kitchen and dining area and a lower living area. Connected by a set of four steps, the ،es feature modern furni،ngs and a muted colour palette.

Terracotta floor tiles stretch through both ،es, extending upwards on one wall of the living room to line an angular fireplace.

Along with the evenly ،ed framing along the glazed walls, a series of timber beams are exposed above Babendiekstraße 23’s ground-floor rooms to add a sense of rhythm to the interior.

While both ،mes share largely identical ،es, one has an open-plan kitchen and living room while in the other, these ،es are separated by pale blue frameless doors.

“One difference between the two ،uses is the design of the kitchens,” said the studio.

“On one side, there is a closed volume that is lower than the wooden beams and can be closed with frameless door leaves. Another element was added in this room, a triangular, floating bay window with a view of the tree at the entrance,” it continued.

“The other ،use has an open-plan kitchen, with a low kitchen island to allow an u،structed view of the garden. The island also serves as a breakfast table,” the studio expanded.

Drawing from the exterior colour palette, a band of sage paint runs up the staircases that lead to Babendiekstraße 23’s upper floors.

Here, both ،mes feature a more divided plan comprising bedrooms of different sizes as well as bathrooms in triangular rooms at the corners of the building. The upper levels also feature exposed timber beams, married with wooden flooring and white clay-plastered walls.

Other German ،uses recently featured on Dezeen include an aluminium-clad micro ،me designed for easy ،embly and a family residence formed of two gabled blocks that resemble two separate ،uses.

The p،tography is by Hannes Heitmüller.