Bart & Buchhofer Architekten
Haus am Wald
best architects 14
single family homes
Place
Port/Schweiz
Studio
Photos
Ruedi Walti
Description
The setting stands for upscale living, overlooking the lake, city and Jura mountains in peaceful surroundings. An irregular site that gently slopes to the west inspired a stepped building form enclosing a patio-like outdoor space. The houses is accessed via a ground-floor entryway that also serves as a carport. A central hall gives onto the kitchen with dining area, the living room, a guest room and adjoining rooms. Leading up from the hall is a two-flight stairway to the first floor, where there is a gallery with panoramic terrace and the bedrooms. The structure of the building is based on an in situ concrete slab system. Precisely set window openings create diverse views through the house and to the outside. The façade is designed to underscore the building’s orientation to all sides. Raw commercial steel plates are arranged vertically in a free-form rhythm while folded horizontal steel strips accent the expressive form of the building.