Haus am See is a project designed by Carlos Zwick Architekten BDA cover an area of 712 m2 and is located in Potsdam, Germany. Photography by José Campos.

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Two shabby, timber-framed houses, both close to collapsing, wildly overgrowing copse on more than 4000 sqm and a busy state road ? this is how uninviting this estate presented itself at lake Jungfernsee in Potsdam, formerly known as a popular excursion place with a lake dock, a park café and a ballroom. It was so uninviting that on one occasion back in 2011, drinking coffee on the terrace of the neighboring estate, architect Carlos Zwick took not even a second glance at it. Indeed, he and his spouse had been on the search for a waterfront property, for quite a while. Thriving nature, a beautiful lake, the city just around the corner and somewhere affordable ? that´s what they were looking for.
Three years later, and still searching for a place to be, the spark struck.
?It was obvious to me that there was plenty of work ahead, but the more I thought about building a house there for my family ? the more mesmerized I was.? Just as much, due to the fact that the surrounding area reminded him more of an industrial wasteland, rather than that of a Potsdam waterside noble´s mansion, which played a factor in its affordability. Impressively close to the Potsdam city centre, as well. A stone´s throw away!
For 25 long years, the waterfront property...