THE TIMELESS BEAUTY
OF TIMBER
Building off-site and employing the natural beauty
and unique properties of wood, German firm
Stommel Haus creates stylish homes – on time
and in budget
Stommel Haus’s publicity
line “Ein Haus wie ein Baum”
roughly translates as “a house
like a tree”, but banish any
thoughts of rough-hewn,
tree-house architecture. The
leading German off-site house
manufacturer designs and builds
bespoke, sophisticated homes
to the highest of aesthetic and
energy-efficient standards. “The
tree reference underlines our
focus on wood as a fantastic and
sustainable building material,”
says Barbara Fischer-Clark,
the agent for Stommel Haus
in Britain. “We create healthy,
contemporary, very energy
efficient and, most of all, very
beautiful homes.
CREATIVE COLLABORATION
Translating the dream of a bespoke home
from sketch to reality is a collaborative
process. It involves clients and Stommel
Haus experts working together from the
initial briefing until the turn of the key in
the front door. “Designing and building a
home for someone is a very creative and
intimate activity,” says Barbara. “Before
we come up with a design, we ask lots of
questions such as: ‘Do you have children
or elderly relatives?’, ‘Do you need space
for a grand piano, a classic car collection
or important pieces of art?’ ‘Any muddy
paws need cleaning after a walk?’ ”
Self-build projects can have a reputation
for spiralling costs, however, once
contracts have been signed the price is
fixed for 12 months. Clients are invited
to Stommel Haus’s headquarters near
Cologne for a three-day meeting to
select all the fittings. Only renowned
brands are used, such as Villeroy & Boch,
Duravit and Grohe for the bathrooms.
“The process is both creative and
demanding,” says Barbara, “but it is also
great fun.”
www.stommel-haus.co.uk
The appeal of a Stommel Haus lies
not just in its architecture, but also in
the tactile, breathable and incredibly
durable wooden structure. Using
the latest construction technology
alongside traditional craftsmanship
such as dovetail joints, homes can be
built quickly and without the use of
toxic chemicals. The houses are made
primarily from kiln-dried Arctic Spruce
Heartwood from FSC certified forest
and built according to the latest DIN
standards for timber construction. They
maintain air freshness and optimum air
humidity, while conforming to the strict
energy-saving regulations demanded in
Germany.
Every week, Stommel Haus performs its
magic – the assembly of a new home in
around a week – for a client in Germanspeaking Europe, Benelux, the UK and
France. “As a small family business, we
are proud to be able to offer top-quality
homes,” says Barbara, “fitted out to
the highest standards, on time and in
budget.”