A German architecture firm has completed an innovative residential project that draws its design inspiration from an unexpected source: the grazing patterns of sheep. ToB.Studio designed the Form Follows Sheep House in Burgsinn, Germany, transforming a previously deemed "unbuildable" hillside plot into a remarkable 110-square-meter home completed in 2025.
The Schneider family's vision for a unique way of living led them to this challenging hillside location, just steps away from the grandparents' much larger house. The steep terrain, dotted with fruit trees and crisscrossed by footpaths and terraces that grazing sheep had carved into the slope over decades, became the foundation for the architectural concept. These natural traces created by the animals over time served as inspiration for a grown pattern that showed how paths and levels could be thoughtfully integrated into the incline.
For years, local authorities had dismissed the plot as unsuitable for construction. However, the determined couple fought persistently for their vision and succeeded in having the village boundary redrawn, opening up a narrow corridor that transformed their fixed idea into a real possibility. This breakthrough came only after endless conversations with authorities and skeptical neighbors, along with a patient search for creative solutions to overcome regulatory obstacles.
The architectural approach centers on clear principles of sustainability and resource consciousness. The building nestles seamlessly into the hillside, resting on the red sandstone foundation below with a concrete plinth at the base and a timber structure above constructed from wood sourced from their own forest. The structure presents itself as vertically clad, monolithic, and almost closed off toward the street while opening dramatically to the valley views.
From the project's inception, the design team committed to compact, sustainable, and resource-conscious construction methods. The family deliberately chose to build with far less living space than their previous home to save materials, energy, and costs, but more importantly, to embody their environmental convictions. This decision reflects a growing trend toward mindful downsizing in residential architecture.
The interior living concept embraces radical openness throughout the space. The design incorporates only the necessary walls with hardly any doors, creating sightlines that run across the entire house. This open approach was made possible because the client and architect developed the project collaboratively from the ground up, working together from the initial concept through to the final material selections.
During construction, one particular detail emerged as especially significant: the staircase. Even before its completion, this architectural element became a focal point for conversations, moments of pause, and quiet observation. Anyone descending the stairs looks through what locals have dubbed the "church window" onto the stream 15 meters below, taking in views of the Spessart forest and the sky above. The dramatic vertical window has become such a striking feature that villagers began whispering, "Ain't that gonna be a church?" The project showcases how thoughtful architecture can transform challenging sites into inspiring living spaces while respecting both natural patterns and environmental principles.
