The Eham architectural firm, located in Hausham, Bavaria, is among the advocates of a design approach that focuses specifically on physical and mental health as well as on site-specific, natural materiality. That this results in unique spaces and atmospheres in each case follows, as it were, “from the nature of the matter.” Their own workspace, the office’s location on the company grounds—which also houses production areas—was created as a new building inspired by the simplicity of a stack of boards: two-story, rectangular, with a flat, overhanging gable roof—and, of course, made of renewable raw materials, specifically solid glued-laminated timber elements. The walls and cabinets are made of fir, the floor of the upper story of ash, and trowel-finished concrete was used for the ground floor. The form of both the architecture and the interior was intended to convey simple clarity and naturalness, to offer a “home”—hence the building’s name: “ZUH.” The interior features light fir wood combined with matte brushed stainless steel, greenery, and subtle color accents. Custom-designed acoustic panels made of solid fir, sound-absorbing curtains, and strategically placed lighting design the office, where people sit at custom-made, height-adjustable desks. The upper floor is characterized by two cubic volumes. One of them encloses the elevator shaft. Floor-to-ceiling cabinet fronts are integrated. The lower level presents itself as an open space with a variety of possible uses, ranging from photo shoots to yoga sessions. Speaking of a healthy and sustainable workspace: Rainwater is used for the toilets, the building envelope is energy-efficient, and ventilation is natural — of course!
