Residence, Kilchberg

Pearl on the lake
Year constructed: 2008

This expansive building dates from 1929 and is built in the Bauhaus style with a single-pitch roof and separate boathouse. The exceptional location near the Zurich city limits boasts captivating panoramas: the magnificent lake and mountain as well as its city view, made possible by the filled-in, almost peninsular lake shore. At enormous expense, the dilapidated building structure had to be preserved, reinforced and fitted out as if it were an entirely new construction. The villa’s exceptionally powerful character comes from the panoramic orientation of its large windows as well as from an entirely new spatial layout and state-of-the-art building and energy technology. On the street side, a new building was constructed as an annex, providing additional living space as well as a car park while simultaneously creating a barrier against the pollution coming from the street. The surroundings are comprised of the courtyard-like, road-facing rear section and the linear extension facing the lake and the open space. The building’s unusual form and precisely chosen, carefully coordinated materials combine with the design of its environs to create a bold yet dignified overall expression.