House by the Lake
Programme: individual house
Clients: private
Dates: 2016-2019
Status: built
Situated on Lake Geneva’s shores, the House by the Lake overlooks one of Switzerland’s unique sceneries. When first faced with this incredible view, it appeared evident that the architecture had to bind with its surrounding and not tempt to outweigh it. The idea, then, was to indulge in a dialogue with nature.
Through a contextual approach, this individual house plays with topography to root itself organically. Two retaining walls follow the contour lines, distorting the ground slightly to inject a courtyard with a garage and technical amenities. A curved pass similar to an architectural promenade reveals this yard and the house’s entrance. There, we access the interior through a split in the second retaining wall.
What we see is landscaped architecture.
A wall as a guideline, a roof to shelter and the lake as a landscape companion.
Construction management: ACAU architecture SA
Partners: Ingeni SA, Olivier Zahn & Associés Sàrl
Photographer: © Julien Lanoo
Press: ArchDaily (21.07.21), Built Environment Channel (11.10.21)
