The question of how we can uncomplicate building again and rely less on the use of technology and more on the very own achievements of architecture has occupied me intensively for years. Our research project "building simply" at the Technical University of Munich and the research houses built in Bad Aibling in this context have opened a door to a multitude of possibilities for how we can build responsibly in the future. The article presents the research and construction project and also the results of the twoyear monitoring of the research houses.