- Project: Minimum House
- Architect: Scheidt Kasprusch Architekten
- Location: Germany, Klausdorf
- Year: 2008
- Area: 151 m2
- Photography: Christian Gahl
Just south of Berlin in Klausdorf, Germany, the Minimum House by Scheidt Kasprusch Architekten reimagines residential living through a lens of minimalism, energy efficiency, and architectural clarity. Spanning 1,625 square feet (approx. 151 m²), this prototype home serves as a modular model for both holiday and full-time residences, embracing light-filled transparency and cutting-edge solar technology.
A Concept Rooted in Efficiency and Outdoor Connection
The project is conceived as a serial prototype, marketed fully furnished under the “Minimum House” label. The design emphasizes:
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Maximum outdoor impressions through expansive glazing
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Active and passive solar gain to reduce energy demand
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Open-plan living within a compact footprint
The home is organized with a north-facing closed façade for insulation and privacy, while the east, south, and west sides are generously glazed to capture natural light and frame the surrounding landscape.
Immaterial Architecture: Reflections, Light, and Glass
Three sides of the house feature floor-to-ceiling glazing, giving the home an ethereal quality. Glass reflections, coupled with thoughtful site orientation, make the building shell appear almost immaterial, blending into its natural context.
The use of a mullion-transom system on the southern side allows fixed glazing to flush with the façade, while sliding windows on the east and west ensure flexible indoor-outdoor flow.
Modular Innovation and Smart Sustainability
Developed in collaboration with engineers and building physicists, the Minimum House incorporates a modular building strategy that aligns high ecological performance with economic feasibility. It includes:
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Soil sensor systems
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Ceiling-mounted radiant heating
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Controlled ventilation with heat recovery
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A smart automation (bus) system for energy monitoring and optimization
The roof hosts a solar system, while its extensive green cover enhances insulation and rainwater management.
Sustainable Material Palette and Interior Logic
Inside, the home revolves around a central core volume—a multifunctional element housing:
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Vertical circulation (stairs)
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Storage closets
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Mechanical systems
This compact core divides the open-plan space into functional zones. The northern wall, built from highly insulated, double-shell timber framing, complements the thermally optimized envelope.
All materials and surfaces are selected based on ecological and sustainable criteria, reinforcing the home’s commitment to responsible construction.
Conclusion: A Prototype for the Future
Minimum House by Scheidt Kasprusch Architekten is more than an architectural object—it’s a statement on how homes can function smarter, lighter, and more responsively in a changing world. Through its low-energy systems, glass-dominant design, and modular adaptability, it offers a future-forward vision that balances technology, nature, and design simplicity.
