House and barn

Villarepos, Switzerland

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Agrandissement et réaménagement du Collège de Gambach

House and barn

Villarepos, Switzerland

Firm

Aeby Aumann Emery architects

Type

Residential › Private House
Industrial › Farm

YEAR

2011

The creation of a barn and dwelling in Villarepos, Switzerland is dipped in a rural scenery of outstanding beauty.

Situated on the outskirts of the village, the plot counts two different volumes: a family house and an outbuilding in the form of a cattle barn.

Set in the middle of the fields, the buildings question the way of living in an exceptional landscape and on the architectural expression of a farm in the 21st century.

Six concrete blades support the dwelling, that appears to be floating on the fields.

The one-storey house has no supplementary outdoor constructions, to limit as much as possible to disrupt the natural lines of the landscape, and preserve a precious yet fragile environment.

The location of this agricultural unit, its typology and the singularity of the materials used, offer a clear interpretation of the sustainable development and integration of a contemporary architecture in a rural environment.

Two rectangular volumes integrate the bedrooms, bathrooms and technical units, and delineate the living room and the kitchen, which open widely on the surrounding environment. Besides the two volumes, the kitchen and the living are defined by large glass panes that also give shape to the patio in between, as well as to two smaller terraces at the extremities of the platform.

The corrugated fibre cement boards that cover the entire house sides that are not out of glass have been employed as formwork to give to the internal wall of the living room the same corrugated shape.

The heating of the house is provided by a geothermal heat pump. Domestic water is heated by solar panels situated on the roof.

The dwelling and barn of Villarepos draw inspiration from the natural sourroundings. The farm manages to successfully combine function and architectural forms, and leave an atypical imprint without compromising the scenery.

Awards:

- IdealesHEIM's Best Swiss Single family residence 2012
- Special mention Architizer A+Awards 2014
- Nominate DRA3 - Distinction Romande d'Architecture 2014