Settler’s House Conversion, The architectural context is a 1950s settler’s house in a remote community 150 km north-east of Berlin. The conversion focuses on the interior of the petite, 2-story building. The logic of the interior spaces is reinterpreted with a sculptural room insert. This new spatial element, made of exposed brickwork, houses a staircase and the fireplace. Its unique quality is created by the precision the few materials are crafted. The choice of brick format and its jointing follows the gradient of the wooden steps, which are precisely integrated into the brickwork. The shape of the sculptural room insert follows the directions of movement and the visual relationships of the surrounding living spaces. Its design is robust, differentiated, and adaptive.
© Schnepp Renou
Sustainability is achieved through the reduction of the number of materials, as well as through the simplicity and permanence of the structural interventions. An open matrix of merging living spaces unfolds around the powerful room insert made of exposed brickwork. The atmosphere of the interior spaces is characterized by the interplay of brickwork, clay-plastered existing walls, and historical and newly added timber constructions. The kitchen furniture is deliberately designed in contrasting colors with filigree stainless steel construction frames.
© Schnepp Renou
Perforated window shutters made of powder-coated steel help create the feeling of sleeping outdoors in summer. At the same time, they provide cooling at night without any additional air conditioning system. Where necessary, the existing openings in the façades were enlarged to open up the view of the surrounding landscape.
© Schnepp Renou
The conversion, made with simple materials and a high precision of craftsmanship, creates striking, yet flexible living spaces and serves as a country retreat for a young family.
Project Info
Architects: Kloepfel Zeimer Architekten
Country: Germany, Brüssow
Area: 135 m²
Year: 2025
Photographs: Schnepp Renou
Manufacturers Gutmann, Bruderus, Claytec, Evoline, Hagemeister, Vola, Weber Saint-Gobain: Gutmann
Lead Team: Mathias Klöpfel, Robert Zeimer
Design Team: Philipp Homner, Linda Pyko
Engineering & Consulting > Structural: BauART
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.