Andreas Galert, the renowned architect who has shaped the prestigious Phoenix Lake waterfront in Dortmund, Germany, has opened his personal villa for an exclusive tour, revealing the meticulous design philosophy behind one of the area's most coveted residential developments. Galert has designed approximately 30 luxury homes around Phoenix Lake, but none is more personal to him than his own residence on Seeweg, where he and his wife Britta have lived since 2012.
Walking through the streets along the northern shore of Phoenix Lake, Galert's finger constantly points to various properties he has created from conception to completion. Among his notable works is the duplex at An den Emscherauen 63/65, positioned in prime lakefront location and designed for a Syrian doctor's family. The outward-facing circular stairwells are adorned with perforated holes reminiscent of Middle Eastern ornamental patterns, creating an almost sacred architectural presence that captivates passersby.
Galert's personal favorite among his creations is the single-family home at An den Emscherauen 12, which, despite being situated in the second row from the waterfront, offers unique architectural highlights. The glass-walled living room on the ground floor theoretically provides views of Phoenix Lake through the gap between two waterfront houses, though the hedge has grown so tall that it now blocks the view entirely. "The lake eventually becomes routine for some people," Galert observes, noting how homeowners sometimes prioritize privacy over the prestigious water views.
The architect maintains close relationships with nearly all his clients, keeping keys to many of the properties he designed. "These houses are my babies – I've only released them for adoption," he explains, emphasizing his continued emotional investment in each project. Most of his Phoenix Lake creations share a distinctive white exterior while featuring completely individualized floor plans, furnishings, and landscape designs. Few individuals have influenced the visual character of Phoenix Lake as significantly as Galert.
When Galert and his wife moved from their rental apartment in Berghofen to their custom-designed villa on Seeweg in 2012, they were among the first residents of the newly created Phoenix Lake community. At that time, Seeweg on the eastern shore was considered a less attractive location compared to the premium villa sites along An den Emscherauen. "When I built my own house here as an architect, I was able to convince many people that this location wasn't so bad after all," Galert recalls. His investment proved prescient – the land he purchased for 300 euros per square meter in 2012 now commands double that price according to current property values.
The Galert residence exemplifies the architect's design philosophy of maximizing views while maintaining privacy. Every evening, Andreas and Britta fall asleep with unobstructed views of Phoenix Lake and the illuminated houses on the southern shore, many of which Galert helped create. They never lower their blinds, preferring to wake naturally with the morning sunlight. To ensure the clearest possible view from their second-floor bedroom, Galert installed wooden windows instead of plastic ones, as the wooden frames require less space and provide better sightlines.
The home's defining feature is its floating staircase, which serves as both a functional element and an artistic centerpiece. When the massive 15-centimeter-thick front door closes with vault-like precision, visitors immediately see through the suspended staircase and large windows to the lake beyond. Despite the villa's compact 180 square meters of living space spread across three floors, the interior feels spacious and airy. The staircase, built without railings and likely not meeting standard building codes, creates a sculptural effect that Galert describes as "a feast for the eyes every time I look at it." The steps appear to float, secured only on one side with steel supports anchored to the concrete wall – a significant structural engineering challenge.
Galert's design approach prioritizes aesthetics alongside functionality, focusing on sight lines and integrating buildings seamlessly into the hillside location beside the lake. From the street, his houses appear as stark white boxes with minimal windows, drawing inspiration from 1920s and 1930s Bauhaus architecture. However, the lakeside facades tell a different story – the top floor is set back three meters, creating space for small roof terraces where large windows capture sunlight from 11 AM onwards during summer months. On the northern shore, buildings are oriented to channel sunlight from the street side through to the lakeside living areas, compensating for the afternoon shadows that fall across lakeside gardens.
Every detail in Galert's personal residence reflects his commitment to unique, non-standard solutions. His bathroom features a washbasin carved from Indonesian river stone – a massive, halved boulder that serves as a striking focal point. The toilet is cleverly concealed within custom furniture, while the sauna is integrated directly into the bathroom rather than relegated to the basement. A laundry chute built into a hallway closet creates a direct path for clothes to slide down to the washing machine in the basement. "Nothing in my houses follows standard conventions – everything is highly individualized," Galert explains.
The architect's design process involves intensive collaboration with wealthy clients, though he insists on incorporating his own creative vision into each project. "The architect is not merely the client's assistant," he states firmly. "Here at Phoenix Lake, I have the privilege of building houses I've always dreamed of creating." While Galert works on premium developments in other locations, including Sommerberg in Höchsten and projects throughout the Ruhr region and southern Germany, he has no regrets about choosing Phoenix Lake as his home base.
The exclusivity of the Phoenix Lake community is reflected in both its low turnover rate and high property values. Galert is currently marketing a house on the southern shore for 1.98 million euros – a property visible from his bedroom window. Viewings require proof of financing, and demand remains extremely high. Most property transactions occur privately through personal networks rather than public listings. The tight-knit community maintains informal surveillance of each other's homes, resulting in virtually no theft incidents.
Galert has cultivated a small private vineyard on his property, though it produces only enough grapes for occasional snacking rather than serious wine production. The couple draws inspiration from southern France, where they spend most summers near St. Tropez. Their Phoenix Lake property reflects this Mediterranean influence, featuring an angular swimming pool that serves more as a safety barrier than a recreational facility, preventing guests from accidentally stepping down to the second terrace level where Galert has installed a small bar area.
Evening entertainment takes place on the protected terrace behind hedges that shield the family from curious pedestrians. Here, the Galerts host barbecue parties and watch football matches and Tour de France broadcasts with friends. The setting combines privacy with luxury, creating an intimate outdoor living space that maximizes the property's potential while maintaining the architect's exacting aesthetic standards.
Reflecting on his decision to build at Phoenix Lake, Galert expresses complete satisfaction with his choices. "I would build my house exactly the same way today as I did back then," he declares. Despite initial skepticism from many Dortmund residents about the location and architectural style, both have proven successful over time. Galert defends single-family villas as resource-efficient investments, noting that "a villa is never demolished – it's only upgraded." This philosophy of continuous improvement rather than replacement aligns with his ongoing role not just as an architect but as a property maintenance consultant and damage assessment expert for the Phoenix Lake community, where his reputation and personal network continue to drive his business success.
