Why This Contemporary Home Let Color, Not Walls, Define the Space

In this living room, a black ceiling stretches across the space, immediately setting the tone. It allows color and material to step forward, turning furniture and sculptural objects into characters within the room. Each element stands on its own, yet remains part of a carefully balanced composition.

In Germany’s Black Forest, a successful entrepreneur returned to his hometown to build a home for the next phase of life. While his business continued at full pace, the architecture took shape under Thomas Fabrinsky Architekten. Once daily operations were left behind, the interiors began in collaboration with Ippolito Fleitz Group GmbH – Identity Architects. What followed was a careful, deliberate process where color, material, and craft took the lead instead of walls.

The entryway feels like stepping into a modern gallery, with a floating aqua console adding a playful pop of color. The slim divider gives privacy without blocking views, letting the dining room peek through while keeping the arrival moment calm and collected.

The entryway feels like stepping into a modern gallery, with a floating aqua console adding a playful pop of color. The slim divider gives privacy without blocking views, letting the dining room peek through while keeping the arrival moment calm and collected.

This dining space balances soft elegance with a little sparkle. A smoky-glass globe chandelier stretches above the stone table top, while plush plum velvet chairs add rich texture and comfort.

This dining space balances soft elegance with a little sparkle. A smoky-glass globe chandelier stretches above the stone table top, while plush plum velvet chairs add rich texture and comfort.
This dining space balances soft elegance with a little sparkle. A smoky-glass globe chandelier stretches above the stone table top, while plush plum velvet chairs add rich texture and comfort.
This dining space balances soft elegance with a little sparkle. A smoky-glass globe chandelier stretches above the stone table top, while plush plum velvet chairs add rich texture and comfort.
This dining space balances soft elegance with a little sparkle. A smoky-glass globe chandelier stretches above the stone table top, while plush plum velvet chairs add rich texture and comfort.

The home opens into a generous open plan living area where boundaries are softened rather than defined.

A black ceiling stretches across the space, immediately setting the tone. It allows color and material to step forward, turning furniture and sculptural objects into characters within the room. Each element stands on its own, yet remains part of a carefully balanced composition.

Materials shift between glossy, matte, and softly absorbent finishes. As daylight moves through the space, surfaces respond, subtly altering how the room feels throughout the day.

In this living room, a black ceiling stretches across the space, immediately setting the tone. It allows color and material to step forward, turning furniture and sculptural objects into characters within the room. Each element stands on its own, yet remains part of a carefully balanced composition.
In this living room, a black ceiling stretches across the space, immediately setting the tone. It allows color and material to step forward, turning furniture and sculptural objects into characters within the room. Each element stands on its own, yet remains part of a carefully balanced composition.
In this living room, a black ceiling stretches across the space, immediately setting the tone. It allows color and material to step forward, turning furniture and sculptural objects into characters within the room. Each element stands on its own, yet remains part of a carefully balanced composition.

The kitchen leans into moody modern comfort, with warm wood cabinetry, and a dramatic green-marble backsplash that feels like art. The oversized island steals the show, giving you plenty of room to prep, while soft under-cabinet lighting adds a gentle glow.

The kitchen leans into moody modern comfort, with warm wood cabinetry, and a dramatic green-marble backsplash that feels like art. The oversized island steals the show, giving you plenty of room to prep, while soft under-cabinet lighting adds a gentle glow.

The living space extends outward into the landscape. In the projecting lounge area, expansive glazing draws the surrounding greenery deep into the interior, dissolving the boundary between inside and out.

Graphic linework runs from the lounge through to the covered pool area and continues toward the outdoor fire pit, positioned slightly apart from the main volume. The animated lines act as a deliberate counterpoint to the strict geometry of the glass facades and the clear structure of the lap pool.

Graphic linework runs from the lounge through to the covered pool area and continues toward the outdoor fire pit, positioned slightly apart from the main volume. The animated lines act as a deliberate counterpoint to the strict geometry of the glass facades and the clear structure of the lap pool.
Graphic linework runs from the lounge through to the covered pool area and continues toward the outdoor fire pit, positioned slightly apart from the main volume. The animated lines act as a deliberate counterpoint to the strict geometry of the glass facades and the clear structure of the lap pool.
Graphic linework runs from the lounge through to the covered pool area and continues toward the outdoor fire pit, positioned slightly apart from the main volume. The animated lines act as a deliberate counterpoint to the strict geometry of the glass facades and the clear structure of the lap pool.
A modern house with a patio, swimming pool, and firepit.
A modern house with a patio, swimming pool, and firepit.
A modern house with a patio, swimming pool, and firepit.
A modern house with a patio, swimming pool, and firepit.

Bold color blocking gives this bedroom instant energy, with red and ribbed olive-green walls wrapping the space. A plush red upholstered bed anchors the room, softened by cloud-white bedding, while the round amber artwork and simple vases bring personality without clutter.

Bold color blocking gives this bedroom instant energy, with red and ribbed olive-green walls wrapping the space. A plush red upholstered bed anchors the room, softened by cloud-white bedding, while the round amber artwork and simple vases bring personality without clutter.
Bold color blocking gives this bedroom instant energy, with red and ribbed olive-green walls wrapping the space. A plush red upholstered bed anchors the room, softened by cloud-white bedding, while the round amber artwork and simple vases bring personality without clutter.

This bedroom and en-suite bathroom has a touch of drama, thanks to the velvety, ocean-blue wall panels. The rust-toned upholstered bed warms up the palette, while floor-to-ceiling glass opens straight to the garden. Nearby, the en-suite bathroom features a built-in bathtub with terrazzo walls and floors.

This bedroom and en-suite bathroom has a touch of drama, thanks to the velvety, ocean-blue wall panels. The rust-toned upholstered bed warms up the palette, while floor-to-ceiling glass opens straight to the garden. Nearby, the en-suite bathroom features a built-in bathtub with terrazzo walls and floors.
This bedroom and en-suite bathroom has a touch of drama, thanks to the velvety, ocean-blue wall panels. The rust-toned upholstered bed warms up the palette, while floor-to-ceiling glass opens straight to the garden. Nearby, the en-suite bathroom features a built-in bathtub with terrazzo walls and floors.
This bedroom and en-suite bathroom has a touch of drama, thanks to the velvety, ocean-blue wall panels. The rust-toned upholstered bed warms up the palette, while floor-to-ceiling glass opens straight to the garden. Nearby, the en-suite bathroom features a built-in bathtub with terrazzo walls and floors.

Conceived as a contemporary bungalow, the home unfolds across a single level. Barrier free access supports comfort over time, while the open plan layout brings the home’s zones together into one continuous experience. Instead of walls, atmosphere and material shifts guide how the space is used and understood.

Conceived as a contemporary bungalow, the home unfolds across a single level. Barrier free access supports comfort over time, while the open plan layout brings the home’s zones together into one continuous experience. Instead of walls, atmosphere and material shifts guide how the space is used and understood.

Through time, collaboration, and exploration in the Material Lab at Ippolito Fleitz Group GmbH – Identity Architects, the client developed a deep appreciation for bold colour and exceptional materials.


Photography by Philip Kottlorz | Architecture: Ippolito Fleitz Group GmbH – Identity Architects | Team: Lana El Khouri, Gunter Fleitz, Lisa Forster, Jana Grubic, Axel Knapp, Maria Carmela Padol, Eylul Ozyar | Partners: Thomas Fabrinsky Architektur (Architecture) and Texturwerk (Ceiling painting)