Rapin Saiz Architectes

Description

Located on the shores of Lake Geneva, just outside Lausanne, the municipality of Saint-Sulpice has been under strong land pressure for several years. In response, the 2011 building regulation allowed the village centre’s density to double. This project fits into that context, aiming to densify a plot while preserving the site’s village character. The site once hosted a former farmhouse, converted into apartments, along with surface parking and underground storage. In the new project, the basement is used for parking, minimising the building’s impact on the garden. The new volume was carefully designed using a distinctly village-inspired architectural language. The project includes seven apartments, each with a balcony and a loggia. Set into the façades, the loggias function as true outdoor rooms, greatly enhancing residential comfort. The building’s character is rooted in traditional and responsible materials: insulating brick walls coated with lime, a tiled roof and wooden windows combine thermal performance with architectural continuity. Vertically oriented windows highlight the essential quality: living spaces that open generously to the garden and street, fostering a sense of community. Nature plays a central role here: existing vegetation has been carefully preserved and extends up to the upper loggias, bringing freshness and softness. The architecture enters into a humble dialogue with its site, balancing memory and modernity.