Residential Building Zug Schleife in Switzerland by Valerio

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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Residential Building Zug Schleife in Switzerland by Valerio Olgiati

February 14th, 2014 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: VALERIO OLGIATI

Seen from a distance the floor plates projecting from the facade with their elliptical openings look like flying carpets with ornamental borders. For the residents these elliptical openings generate a sense of distance, since they prevent neighbours from seeing into each other’s apartments. At the same time the correspondence between each of these round forms and the individual apartments gives residents a feeling of living alone in a centre. The perception of space changes according to the point of view and the position of the sun.

Image Courtesy © Javier Miguel Verme

Architects: Valerio Olgiati
Project: Residential Building Zug Schleife
Location: Switzerland
Photography: Javier Miguel Verme
Competition: 1. prize, 2006
Client: Consortium ZugSchleife; Peikert-Immobilien AG and 4B Immobilien AG
Collaborators, Project team: Aldo Duelli (project manager office Olgiati), David Bellasi, Liviu Vasiu, Jonas Ulmer, Sara Wiedenbeck
Total Contractor: Toneatti AG and dima&partner AG
Structural Engineer: Patrick Gartmann, Conzett Bronzini Gartmann AG, Chur
Materials: red in-situ concrete, glass
Begin of planing: 2007
Begin of construction: july 2010
End of construction: april 2012
Volume: 65’300 m3 (SIA 416)
Area: 13`100 m2

Image Courtesy © Javier Miguel Verme

The apartment floor plans are divided into a living area in the west and a sleeping and working area in the east, with bathrooms and wardrobes in between. In spatial terms the balconies form an extension of the living room. This impression is further strengthened by the large elliptical openings.

Image Courtesy © Javier Miguel Verme

The exposed concrete structure is made of red-brown concrete poured in situ. The outer walls are clad with glass panels in the same colour. They appear fragile and light and contrast with the solid concrete structure. The use of the same colour for the cladding and the reflections in the glass blur the clear contours of the heated volume. As a result the elemental appearance of the stone construction is amplified.

Image Courtesy © Javier Miguel Verme

Image Courtesy © Archive Olgiati

Contact Valerio Olgiati

Tags: Switzerland

Category: Residential

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