Hurst Song Architekten

Description

Standing on the slopes above Lake Zürich, the original house was built in 1908 by Jakob Haller and Karl Schindler. Despite renovations, distinctive original features remained which served as leitmotifs for the project. The closed ground floor was reconfigured to create a flowing sequence of rooms, reflecting contemporary living concepts. A new entrance hall leads through to the kitchen, while two playful baroque-esque external stairs encourage the connection between the interior and the garden. The existing internal staircase was replaced with one in cast concrete, removing the previous half-landings and continuing through to the loft – a new space created within the roof void. Glazing replaced the loft gable wall, affording views over Lake Zürich to the Alps. An external timber screen, inspired by the original 1908 designs, provides shade and privacy. The new interventions to the house seek to create a synthesis and dialogue with the existing structure. Extensive joinery, introduced through the ground floor, takes inspiration from the original panelling and wardrobes of the first floor. The kitchen references the Frankfurt Kitchen and the colour scheme throughout reinterprets the original colours found beneath layers of old paint. The green washed, plaster façade with red highlights reflects the colour matrix of the existing stone plinth. All services were upgraded, new windows installed, and the roof was thoroughly insulated, drastically improving the environmental performance of the house.