House in Frontenex by Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Article source: Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

The subject of the project is an old 18th century manor with several valuable buildings, including an orangery built in 1816. The orangery is an integral element of the project and contains part of the living space. The entire manor has an orthogonal design, with the one exception of the orangery, with its diagonal alignment towards the south-west. The volume of the new building behind it mediates between the two geometries.

Image Courtesy © Francesca Giovanelli, Birr

• Architects: Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA
• Project: House in Frontenex
• Location: Frontenex, Switzerland 
• Photography: Francesca Giovanelli, Birr
• Project: 2003 – 2004
• Execution: 2004 – 2006
• Client: Private
• Collaborator: Philippe Le Roy, architecte EPFZ
• Structural engineer: Jean Regad, Genève

Awards

• Distinction Romande d’Architecture 2010
• Die Besten 2009 Hochparterre, Mention
• Prix Béton 2009, engere Wah

Image Courtesy © Francesca Giovanelli, Birr

Restoring the old orangery, which was in danger of collapsing, and the creation of new spaces are two different yet interdependent aspects of the project.

The new building is lower than the old one which is only revealed once you have moved around the older structure. The geometry creates an entrance courtyard that integrates the old façade into its outline. The connection between the two buildings lies beneath a ramp that makes the meeting between the two structures gentler. The back wall of the old orangery has no openings or windows apart from a small ventilation aperture. The new building responds to that with a generous opening surrounded by solid volumes. The old wall plaster retains its original condition and conforms to the colour and texture of the new building’s bush-hammered concrete.

Image Courtesy © Francesca Giovanelli, Birr

Image Courtesy © Francesca Giovanelli, Birr

Image Courtesy © Francesca Giovanelli, Birr

Image Courtesy © Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Image Courtesy © Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Image Courtesy © Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Image Courtesy © Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Image Courtesy © Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Image Courtesy © Charles Pictet architecte FAS SIA

Tags: Frontenex, Switzerland

Category: House

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2014 at 2:34 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.