Casa Morgana in Northern Germany by J. Mayer H

Neighboured by 19th-century homes, the abstract contemporary structure that is Casa Morgana stands out amongst its woody surrounds in Northern Germany. J. Mayer H. regard the building as a study for potential future architecture that seems to have fallen out of context, much like a ‘residential sculpture’. The surrounding nature simulates a subtropical oasis, taking the home out of its geographical context and creating a sense of atmospheric displacement.

Dating back to 1972 and 1991 respectively, the existing building and its annexes were reduced to their concrete shells and then reconfigured with targeted alterations. Rather than a cosmetic makeover, the architects sought to preserve a location that distils and continues the archaic and brutalist aesthetic from its time of origin. Several concrete cubes of various sizes comprise the three-story building, placed at staggered levels on top of one another and connected via a central stairway.

Exposed concrete additions and the partial removal of ceilings and walls hone in further on the form of the building, with the staggered floors and varying room heights creating vertical links and a different sequence of rooms. Furniture within the interior is reduced to the minimum, enhancing the expanse of the residence. Certain elements replicate the cube motif, such as the mirrored cube kitchen island.

Partitions between different rooms are functional while acting as crucial elements of décor. Mirrored walls reflect exposed concrete and terrazzo surfaces, and installations emulate gaps through the concrete walls, as if exposing the inner structure of the material. The pre-existing concrete walls assist in creating a hybrid of reduction and projection.

From the street, Casa Morgana appears closed and private. Only from the garden is the home transformed from its monochromatic grey palette toward lush greenery. Large glass pivoting doors open the entire living area onto a private haven of bamboo, tall trees, palms and mushrooms, designed by the artist Tita Giese.