HOUSE BY THE CREEK
2011-2012
Urswil

Project, realisation
Client: private
Images: Martin Guggisberg, Aytac Pekdemir

The site is situated on the countryside of central Switzerland, close to Luzern. A small stream with high trees bounds the parcel to the south and a street to the north. The qualities of the idyllic surrounding with an astonishing view of the Swiss central Alps were the ideal background to let the environment be part of the concept.

The foundation is developed to meet the flood protection, its form reflexes the outlines of the parcel. The residential building and the garage are on top of the base and a gap separates them. Both buildings are shaped through the same angle of the saddle roof.

The basic concept is an open building in connection with the environment and clearly structured areas. The open room flow of the house is defined through two closed volumes, which encloses the staircase and the bathrooms. A two-storey open space combines the centre of the house. On the first floor the rooms gain on quality and generosity through the saddle roof. Each room has its own quality in dimension, height and view.

The facade to the north captures only a few small windows, while the south facade has floor-to-ceiling windows. The plastering has a vertical structure and its bright earth colour brings liveliness to the stern geometrical form of the building.

The materials concrete, polished cement floor and coloured woodworks define the interior, those grey colours give a decent contrast to the white plastered walls.