Clou Architekten

Description

Situated near Zürich, at the idyllic Lützelsee lake in a protected moor landscape, lies the Menzihof, a farm consisting of the listed Menzihaus surrounded by agricultural buildings that have been carefully renovated and extended. The barn was remodelled, the garage was converted into a farm kiosk, and a new shed was built. The innovative timber construction of the latter, with a roof-integrated photovoltaic system, fits the small-scale development typical for the area in terms of typology and scale. The roof with its rhythmically positioned solar cells within the brown-coloured PV modules acts as a fifth façade both from outside and inside the building. It manifests as a prototype of a translucent solar roof without a sub-roof, while the semi-permeable shell of the shed ensures good lighting and ventilation. The trio of shed, Menzihaus and barn with farm kiosk evolved from an in-depth analysis of the agricultural landscape and the desire to protect the local character by embedding the new structures in the existing context and re-using building elements. The decision to preserve and add to the farm ensemble instead of replacing it was deliberately made after weighing up all interests. This project proves the potential of respectfully restoring an existing farm while simultaneously modernising it. The combination of functionality and aesthetics is pivotal to the project, making it appealing in both ecological and architectural terms.