phalt Architekten

Description

The house is located in a heterogeneously developed neighbourhood of detached houses in a village on Switzerland’s Central Plateau. The basic form, made up of two offset rectangles, generates a sculptural volumetry through the shifted storeys, giving the house an extraordinary presence. The site’s downward-sloping street side, combined with its narrow and elongated shape, inspired a very unusual entrance solution. The house is thus entered on the lower ground floor, parallel to the garage, leading through a skylit entrée into the light-flooded ground floor. The open layout of the main floor revolves around a central fireplace. Visible from all sides, this forms the almost archaic centrepiece of the house. The living area is set off from the dining area and kitchen by two steps. Thanks to the carefully positioned, generously sized windows, the surrounding garden is brought indoors. This effect is further enhanced by covered outdoor areas. The stairs between the ground floor and first floor function both as access route and furniture. The upper floor accommodates the private rooms: arranged around the staircase, they feature precisely set windows framing views of the landscape. The attic room with rooftop terrace on the top floor offers even more breath-taking views of the Alps.