In the serene, verdant landscape of the Black Forest, Counterpoint House has arisen, interpreting a successful entrepreneur's vision for his post-retirement life. Having concluded a high-paced business career, the client finally turned his focus to a residence that would inspire the next chapter of his life

Conceived by Thomas Fabrinsky Architekten, the structure is a contemporary bungalow skillfully designed for effortless living. It boasts an array of modern amenities: a carport, a four-car garage to accommodate the client’s distinguished collection, a pristine lap pool, and expansive walls of glazing that dissolve the boundary between the interior and the surrounding natural greenery. Critical to its design is barrier-free access, ensuring enduring comfort.

The design of the interiors became an intentional, thoughtful process. Through intensive collaboration within the firm’s Material Lab, the client discovered a newfound passion for sophisticated, bold colour palettes, truly exceptional materials, and the precision of refined craftsmanship. This phase of life marks an appreciation for beautiful, deliberate objects, and the client has embraced the entire creative process. In this journey, Ippolito Fleitz Group accompanied the client as design partners, guiding and enriching the exploration of interiors with their expertise and sensitivity.

The resulting open-plan layout is a triumph of fluid design, seamlessly unifying the home’s various zones and orchestrating a graceful flow between the manicured indoors and the wilder exterior. The space transforms into a carefully curated stage for daily life, anchored by a deep black ceiling that immediately sets a tone of bold, sophisticated contrast.

Within this atmosphere, sculptural objects—chosen for their expressive colour, striking form, and tactile materiality—emerge as distinct, almost theatrical characters, yet remain in perfect dialogue with the overarching composition. The interplay of finishes is subtle yet dynamic: glossy elements reflect light, matte surfaces absorb it, and softly absorbent textures interact with the changing daylight to continually reshape the perception of volume and space. This dance between natural and artificial light serves to delineate, expand, and continuously guide the eye through the residence.

In the dramatic, projecting lounge area, the interior extends deep into the landscape, deliberately blurring the traditional line between shelter and nature. A continuous thread of material language, along with the unifying black ceiling, connects the spaces. Most notably, a network of finely drawn, large-format graphic lines spans from the lounge area, across the patio, and onto the covered pool area, extending to the outdoor fire pit, which is set slightly apart from the main volume. This animated, seemingly spontaneous linework forms a deliberate visual counterpoint to the strict geometric precision of the glass façades and the crisp clarity of the pool’s architecture, elevating the home from a mere dwelling to a work of art.