Haefeli Architekten
Fischer multi-family house
best architects 23
multi-family homes
Place
Döttingen, Switzerland
Studio
Photos
Andreas Buschmann
Description
A multi-family house
with three apartments and two studios was built on a gentle slope in a
residential area of Bienne. Like its neighbours, the house faces the street and
presents itself as a solitary building. The façade, made of charred logs, does
not give any hint of the inner spatial division and constantly changes its
appearance over the course of the day: from deep black to dark blue to light
silver. Inside, the light leads to the apartments and studios through a
staircase made of exposed concrete bearing the traces of rough wooden formwork.
In contrast to the studios, which are dominated by whitewashed bricks, the
apartments are more finely finished. Oak floors along with ceilings and walls
made of concrete enter into a dialogue with brick walls plastered in differentiated
colours. The materials are left in their essence, and the fixtures are
handcrafted and robust. The stairwell with skylight is framed by glass blocks
in the attic. Together they form a luminous sculpture around which the rooms
are arranged like a windmill. A continuous floor pattern and floor-to-ceiling
sliding doors support the concept of flowing spaces here. As a contrast to the
black façade, the terraces as well as the windows are made of natural wood.