Cloud Cuckoo House in the Black Forest, Germany, sits at an altitude of 800m above sea level. When fog drifts into the valley, the home for a young family appears to float above the clouds, enjoying magical uninterrupted views across the fairytale landscape of the Upper-Rhine area. The house grows out of its steeply sloping mountainside location, with rooms and spaces cascading down the hill, creating a living landscape of terraces on staggered yet interconnected levels, all under one roof. The building consists of two parts: the original 1950s lower ground floor, and a new timber structure sitting perpendicular above. A new terrace lies to the side, creating one of several terraces. The spaces in the original ground floor have been reconfigured, and now bedrooms are below living spaces, nestling into the hillside to create a peaceful environment with a beautiful view down the valley. Externally, the original structure is clad in slate. The timber monolithic volume above is made from locally sourced silver fir, pre-treated to gracefully weather to its natural white appearance. The ceiling inside is also made from Black Forest silver fir, inlaid with discreet LED slots. A central chandelier illuminates the point where the two buildings meet. The house’s interior is lined with picture-frame windows of varying sizes, giving different views of the landscape. Each one gives a different view of the landscape, from a 50 km view towards the Rhine valley, to a five-metre close-up of a pine tree in the back garden. Together the windows create an indoor exhibition of the Black Forest; embedding the house Cloud Cuckoo in its setting, and shaping its character. Photographs © ÜberRaum / René Lamb