dieterdietz.org nestles a pair of houses in the rural swiss landscape

amid the vineyards of chigny, a town in west switzerland, dieterdietz.org has completed a pair of houses: a refurbished 19th century building, and an entirely new structure. the brief called for a design that included shared and individual living spaces, allowing residents to live independently within a community of friends and their families. the new house, which references the form of the region’s barns, also helps create an interstitial courtyard within the uninterrupted landscape.

all images © joël tettamanti, unless otherwise stated

dieterdietz.org has structured the layout of each home around generously proportioned rooms that serve as social hubs. furthermore, the interior configurations — comprising thresholds of voids, doors, curtains, and sliding panels — mean that each house can be individually occupied. both residences rely on a basic palette of materials, which accentuate their similarities and differences; the refurbished property maintains its original structure, with visible signs of age, while the roof of the new dwelling is built entirely of nano-film coated solar-cells, which provide energy for both dwellings.

the new house references the form of the region’s barns

‘these houses offer a frame for living,’ says dieter dietz. ‘like a canvas drawn into space that awaits life to complete itself. users will further define visual and spatial articulation.’ from the inside out, the two buildings orient themselves towards the landscape, opening views onto the vineyards and the surrounding orchard. it is intended that, over time, the two buildings will be fully shaded by the trees and plants that climb between the roofs.

generously proportioned rooms serve as social hubs

the dwellings provide ‘a frame for living’

the two buildings orient themselves towards the landscape

the roof is built entirely of nano-film coated solar-cells

the second home is a restored 19th century building

the refurbished property maintains its original structure

visible signs of age are preserved and celebrated

a new staircase connects the storeys

the houses are located amid the vineyards of chigny, a town in west switzerland

image © mikael blomfelt

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project info:

location: chigny, switzerland
client: forel/schrämli, zurich
architect: dieterdietz.org, zurich and lausanne
project architects: dieter dietz, vincent mermod, manuel potterat
civil engineer: schnetzer puskas, basel
landscape architect: dieterdietz.org
completion: 2017

lot surface: 1,910 sqm
volume: 2,559 m3
constructed surface: 701 sqm
heated surface: 590 sqm
solar roof: 250 sqm
installation performance: 20.37 [kWp]
output/year: 15.200 [kWh]
volume skin ratio: A/EBF 2.21
Qh: 192 MJ/m2a
Qww: 50 MJ/m2a