This lovely modern take on the Helvetian chalet is located in a picturesque town in Switzerland, just below a very famous and historic castle. As you can imagine building restrictions here are extremely strict. But rather than be limited by the rules, tec architecture was able to find a way to express the modern design language that the homeowner so desired within the context of the local vernacular. Rather than be confined by the rules, tec explored and pushed the boundaries respectfully. The result is a bright, light-filled modern abode that creates a new take on an age old classic.
Project description from Tec Architecture:
The shape of the building was predetermined because of the restrictions set forth by the city of Salzenstein, Switzerland – the location of the chalet. Instead of seeing the structure as a box with a pitched roof, TecARCHITECTURE approached the entire form as one piece. The dematerialization of the facade towards the Lake Constance, and the opaque body towards the mountain in the back reflected the natural conditionssurrounding the home.
Sometimes restrictions are catalysts of creativity. The house toys with some of the overcome notions of the traditional pitch roof design. Even though the design had to stay within the given shape, Tec designed the main facade to be completely transparent. While clearly unequipped to sustain the building in a traditional way, creative design was necessary to find a practical solution. Tec’s hope was to alter some of these nostalgic connotations, especially within the context of the more or less traditional surroundings. We take pride in interpreting the restrictions put forth on our projects.
As with “Casa son Vida” in Mallorca we adhered to the rules, but found areas in which we could push the envelope with our creativity, while still maintaining and adhering to guidelines.
How many bedrooms/baths? 5 bedrooms/4 bathrooms
What are the most notable design features/amenities?
The house and pool are both run on Geothermal energy produced on site. Water‐saving appliances have been installed throughout the house, and facades have been created with state of the art insulation values.
Project Name: Modern Swiss Chalet Project
Location: Salzenstein, Switzerland
Square meters of the structure: 420 square meters
Lot/site size: 1700 square meters
Completion date: 2007
