A striking residential project has emerged in the heart of the Bavarian Forest, where German architecture firm BÜRO MÜHLBAUER has completed an innovative dwelling that challenges conventional design approaches. The House with Two Courtyards, finished in 2025, stands as a bold architectural statement that deliberately isolates itself from its surroundings, creating an introspective living environment illuminated by two carefully positioned courtyards.
The project, located in Bad Kötzting, Germany, represents a unique approach to residential architecture that prioritizes interior experience over contextual integration. According to Alexander Mühlbauer, the principal architect, the house is intentionally "built without context" and remains "isolated from its surroundings." This design philosophy creates a structure that can only be fully understood and appreciated when one enters and experiences its interior spaces.
The defining feature of this residence lies in its dual courtyard system, which serves as the primary source of natural illumination throughout the home. These two courtyards are strategically positioned to maximize daylight penetration while maintaining the building's isolated character. The courtyards not only provide essential lighting but also create intimate outdoor spaces that offer privacy and tranquility within the forest setting.
The collaborative design team included Alexander Mühlbauer, Andreas Mühlbauer, Andreas Josef Mühlbauer, and Lukas Westner, who worked together to realize this unconventional vision. The project also benefited from the landscape architecture expertise of Professor Maurus Schifferli, who helped integrate the building's relationship with its natural surroundings despite its intentionally isolated design approach.
Concrete serves as the primary material for the structure, giving the house a monolithic appearance that reinforces its sense of solidity and permanence within the forest landscape. The material choice reflects a contemporary architectural aesthetic while providing durability against the regional climate conditions. The building incorporates high-quality fixtures and fittings from renowned manufacturers including JUNG electrical systems, Duravit bathroom fixtures, and Vola plumbing components.
The project was captured through the lens of photographer Mikael Olsson, whose images reveal the interplay between the stark concrete surfaces and the soft natural light filtering through the courtyards. The photographic documentation showcases how the building's austere exterior gives way to more intimate and light-filled interior spaces, demonstrating the transformative power of the courtyard concept.
Additionally, the project features artistic elements contributed by Hans Sailer from Kirchdorf am Inn, adding cultural depth to the architectural experience. This collaboration between architecture and art reflects the building's role not just as a residence, but as a complete living environment that engages multiple senses and experiences.
The House with Two Courtyards stands as a testament to BÜRO MÜHLBAUER's design philosophy, which prioritizes the interior spatial experience over external architectural relationships. This approach creates a unique residential environment that offers its inhabitants a retreat-like quality, perfectly suited to its forest location while maintaining a distinctly contemporary architectural character.
