RUDOLPH HOUSE

Rudolph House

Discovering a collectors paradise in the green heights above Porsche’s home city.

High up in the hills of Stuttgart and hidden in plush, lively greenery there are a few extraordinary houses looking down towards the city from their promontory. Among them is the Rudolph House by Alexander Brenner, a renowned name in Stuttgart’s architecture circles. Brenner’s team has been expanding their portfolio over the years, defining a recognisable style through a few key architectural points, such as wide expanses in both horizontal and vertical planes, minimal colours and shape, and lush natural settings.

All of these are present in the Rudolph House, with its three levels of both oﬃce and domestic spaces. Some other features, such as the concrete curve that wraps around the building and the way the fireplace nestles inside, seem more Niemeyer-esque, the eﬀect reinforced by the tropical feel of the surrounding foliage.

In the Rudolph House, made-to-measure features reflect the owner’s interests and tastes throughout. The vast library, the wine cave, or the fully-catered cocktail bar in the living room. However, the most unique aspect of the project is the 12-car garage, a pristine vitrine housing a broad collection of Porsches from early 911s to a 356 Speedster and even a 910. Both the collection and the architectural scheme of the house are cleverly hidden from the street, revealing themselves inwardly instead and communicating elegantly with the surrounding nature, who’s richness seems more reminiscent of Japanese or Brazilian gardens than South-West Germany.

Despite its clean, museum-like aspect, the garage is not to be mistaken for an exhibition gallery. Each car is used thoroughly on its home streets, exiting the space by way of a discreet car elevator. It’s a collector’s dream made reality, balancing pleasure, domesticity, work and celebration, providing ample space for respite and contemplation, whether for nature or man-made design.