Located on the edge of a forest in Germany’s Naab Valley, Komorebi takes its name from the Japanese term for ‘light filtered through leaves’. It embodies a quiet dialogue between architecture and nature. Conceived by QueckArchitektur as a low-lying black timber volume, the 19-metre-long house recedes into its wooded surroundings, respecting the landscape of hills, river, and forest that defines the region. Every aspect of its construction and performance reflects a restrained, sustainability-led approach that prioritises natural materials, passive strategies, and long-term ecological balance.
Material logic and construction
Wood is both the structural and aesthetic foundation. The exterior cladding consists of carbonised Japanese cedar boards, charred using the shou sugi ban technique to improve resistance to weathering, insects, and fire without chemical treatment. This naturally blackened surface helps the house blend with the surrounding trees while ensuring low maintenance and longevity.
Inside, solid spruce panels form the walls and ceilings, offering a warm, tactile counterpoint to the darker exterior. The floor is finished in locally sourced limestone, while elements of clay and linen introduce softness and texture. Together, these materials establish a quiet sensory balance between hard and soft, light and dark, echoing the play of light that gives the project its name.
The building envelope comprises 18 centimetres of solid spruce and 24 centimetres of wood-fibre insulation, ensuring strong thermal performance and full recyclability. The base plate and flat roof are also made of solid spruce, reducing reliance on concrete and steel. A flat green roof supports local vegetation and integrates roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, providing renewable electricity for the home’s energy needs.
Passive design and energy systems
The architecture is oriented due south to capture sunlight and expansive views. The large glazed façade allows for direct solar gain in winter, complemented by an 18-ton clay wall at the centre of the living room. This wall acts as a thermal battery: it absorbs heat from a double-sided wood-burning insert and releases it gradually, helping to maintain stable indoor temperatures.
In summer, cross-ventilation and deep roof overhangs prevent overheating, reducing the need for active cooling. A rainwater harvesting system collects water from the roof and stores it in a buried cistern for garden irrigation, closing the site’s water cycle.
