A Green-Roofed Family Home Frames the Grandeur of the Swiss Alps
This family home designed by Lausanne-based Tempesta Tramparulo is perfectly oriented to take advantage of the breathtaking landscape in Grimisuat, Switzerland. Rather than building up, the architects took a linear approach and created a single-story home that gently integrates with its sloping site.
One of the home’s larch-clad volumes appears to float above the site.
A glazed section perfectly frames country views amidst the book-lined walls of the home’s sitting room. A mobile panel allows residents to modulate light and privacy as they please.
Defined by perforated larch wood cladding, and topped with a living roof, the home creates "a frame for its inhabitants that magnifies the positives of the site and eclipses the negatives," explains the firm. This is evident in the home’s precisely placed openings, which establish a seamless relationship between the interior and the exterior.
The sitting room juxtaposes a collection of books against landscape views for a "coming together of opposites," the firm says.
The home’s east-west openings "allow for an interplay of sunlight to animate the space throughout the day."
On the northern side of the home, openings overlook the mountainous slope, while on the southern side, the panoramic view is enhanced by thoughtful framing. The minimalist interiors display a "high degree of craftsmanship," which "culminates in the attention lavished on the sitting room library."
The minimalist wood-paneled kitchen features a waterfall island at the center. Full-height glass windows define the space.
A wood-paneled, built-in desk nook is surrounded by cabinets.
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According to the architects, the sitting room best summarizes the spirit of the entire project: "In this room, the frank juxtaposition of a book collection with the view outside challenges the supposed dichotomy between nature and culture, implying that the coming together of opposites can be a prompt dialogue."
Tempesta Tramparulo just received a 2019 Architecture Masterprize in Architectural Design / Residential Architecture for their work.
The kitchen, as viewed from the exterior terrace.
The slatted exterior allows natural light to filter into the home while fostering a sense of protection.
The home extends along a natural ridge.
The home is set amidst the monumentality of the Swiss Alps.
Family Residence floor plan
A cross-section of the sitting room.
Related Reading:
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7 Alpine Holiday Chalets in Switzerland
A Chalet in the Swiss Alps Perfectly Blends Modern and Rustic Design
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Tempesta Tramparulo
Civil Engineer: INGEA, Lausanne
Landscape Design: Arbora Paysagistes
Interior Design: Tempesta Tramparulo
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