DESIGN NAME: Alpine House
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Home
INSPIRATION: The site offers an unhindered view onto the alpine mountain panorama. The views, the south orientation and the sloped hillside build the corner stones for the design of the building.
The polygonal shape of the building is informed by the rough angles found in the alpine landscape and especially the shape of the stone boulders that were carried from the mountains to the lower valleys by the glacier.
The chosen materials and colors are a reference to the local vernacular architecture. The combination of stone, wood, concrete and lime plaster creates a livable and contemporary alpine atmosphere.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The house stands on the edge of the alpine settlement of Unterseen in the Berner Oberland (Switzerland), like a boulder carried away by the nearby glacier. The slightly sloped terrain and the angled shape of the house allow for a clear view of the surrounding mountain panorama. The square window openings of different sizes relate to striking views and make the spatial structure inside legible. The folded facade facing the street accentuates the entrance area.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The interior is structured with changing floor levels and room heights creating a sequence of compact and open spaces. The entrance is designed as a high hall. A few steps lead up to the spacious kitchen with a lower ceiling followed by the dining area with double room height. Three large windows frame the view on the famous alpine panorama of Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau. The living room with a lower ceiling and a fireplace completes the sequence of rooms on the ground floor. In the bedrooms, the sloped ceilings become visible. The roof terrace is embedded in the sloped roof corners and offers an unobstructed view on the mountain landscape in all directions.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project was designed and planned from 2018 to 2020.
Construction took place from January to December 2020.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Architecture, Building and Structure Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The house is built with insulated single-brick and natural materials. The facade is finished with coarse-grained, light gray lime plaster. Inside, the walls are completed in unpainted natural lime plaster. Irregularly placed slate slabs characterize the living rooms. The floors in the bedrooms and all built-in furniture as well as doors and windows are made of oak.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Living spaces = 226 m²
Basement = 101 m²
Foot print = 169 m²
Plot area = 827 m²
TAGS: house, alps, mountain, sustainable, home, fireplace, oak, slate, view, windows
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: -
CHALLENGE: -
ADDED DATE: 2022-04-29 02:29:56
TEAM MEMBERS (1) : Samuel Seiler
IMAGE CREDITS: Photography - David Aebi
All other materials - Samuel Seiler
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