Crooked House in Switzerland by FOVEA architectes

The project site is located in the swiss countryside just above a small lake side village. First construction of an individual houses devoted area, this project will deal later with other villas all around. This project will face other villas around in the future.

Crooked House - Photo by Thomas Jantscher

• Design and construction: FOVEA architectes
• First site visit: 31.01.2006
• Construction start: 22.01.2007
• Construction end: 13.07.2007
• site surface : 970 m2
• building footprint: 110 m2
• net surface: 226 m2
• built volume: 800 m3
• costs CFC2 (sia 416) : 760 CHF/m3
• Constructive data:
• Structure: wood frame and plain wood slabs on a raft of reinforced concrete.
• Façades: Painted pine planks and tiles
• Heating system by an air/water heat pump
• photos : thomas jantscher (www.jantscher.ch)
• Civil engineer: ADEQUAT Georges Comte , Neuchâtel Masonry – concrete: Chételat et Cie SA, Cressier
• Timber work, roofing : Baumann Charpente SA, Cudrefin
• Windows : Baumann SA, Cudrefin
• Heating: Ottet Fabrice, Grolley
• Electrical work: Belec Sàrl, Constantine
• Plastering – painting: Stoppa Fils & Cie, Hauterive
• Tiling: Kurt Maçonnerie Carrelage, Neuchâtel
• Metal works: Metaltech, Marin-Epagnier
• Garden: Chopard-Dolder SA, Boudevillier

Crooked House - Photo by Thomas Jantscher

The section of the project solves the contradiction between the need for privacy and generous openings to the south by the choice of a radical volumetry. The 40 ° inclined front of the stage creates a feeling of privacy along the entire terrace and offers an introspective bird’s eye view above on the garden. In this way, further development of opposite is no more problematic. The orientation of all rooms takes advantage of the full length of the land, the only controlled environmental element.

Crooked House Interior - Photo by Thomas Jantscher

CONSTRUCTION
Entirely prefabricated, the wooden frame and plain wood slabs were installed in 2 days on a raft of reinforced concrete. The finishes and facade covering were built on site. Heated by an air/water heat pump, the house benefits form a very good insulation.

Crooked House Exterior - Photo by Thomas Jantscher

LANGUAGE
The project reinterprets elements of the rural architecture of the area. The proportions of the object are a call back to the typical tobacco barns built in open fields. The volume borrows the image and function of the eaves of local farmhouses. However, the roof was built and inhabited. It protects the upper floor from the midday sun.

Crooked House - Photo by Thomas Jantscher

On the façades, the materials are mapped. Their nature links different kind of similarities to the references but their application is free and is induced an abstraction level towards vernacular inspirations.

Pine planks and tiles are applied to the volume deliberately as textures. The design of the edges, sometimes at odds, sometimes in continuity, illustrates this intention.

The combined reading of these various sources leads a foothold in the architectural heritage and is a source of inspiration for function or design.

Layout / Plan

Tags: Switzerland

Category: House

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