jagged wooden structure unfolds on top of ba holz house sitting along lake geneva

BA Holz House by AUM balances mass and lightness

The BA Holz House by AUM and designer Pierre Minassian is a unique residence strategically placed on the banks of Lake Geneva. The design sits on a wooded plot populated by birch and Scots pine trees, gently descending into the lake’s waters on the French side. The house features an origami-like wooden construction that balances mass and lightness, unfolding to provide views of the lake. The structure appears as a complex Kapla game suspended mid-air on a transparent base that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

all images by Studio Erick Saillet

honeycomb design encloses glazed interior spaces

Three concrete walls support the entire wooden construction, giving it a floating appearance. The living area’s structure is composed of wooden panels with innovative cross-sections and overhangs, resembling a honeycomb or folded design. This configuration is not only visually intriguing but also protects the interior from sunlight and shelters the terraces from the elements. Finely designed beams incorporate large windows that open onto the lake. The design team at AUM ensures the structure’s durability through thin roof overhangs that provide rain protection.

The west facade of the house offers privacy and sun protection through a claustra of interlocking wooden slats on the first floor and a metal mesh curtain on the ground floor. These elements simplify the volume’s appearance and enhance the house’s graphic quality, covering the bedrooms and bathrooms to create a unified facade.

BA Holz House by AUM, designed by Pierre Minassian, sits on the banks of Lake Geneva

the house is strategically placed on a wooded plot with birch and Scots pine trees

the origami-like wooden construction balances mass and lightness

the structure resembles a complex Kapla game suspended mid-air on a transparent base

three concrete walls support the entire wooden construction, creating a floating appearance

wooden panels with innovative cross-sections and overhangs form the living area

finely designed beams incorporate large windows that open onto the lake

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the interlocking wooden slats and metal mesh unify the bedrooms and bathrooms

the house offers a visually intriguing and functional architectural solution

thin roof overhangs ensure the structure's durability by providing rain protection

the honeycomb-like design protects the interior from sunlight and shelters the terraces

the design integrates seamlessly with the surrounding landscape

a metal mesh curtain on the ground floor enhances the facade's graphic quality

the transparent base highlights the exceptional setting of Lake Geneva

the wooden structure is not only visually intriguing but also protects the interior from sunlight

the honeycomb-like design frames views from the interior of BA Holz House

model

model

project info:

name: BA Holz House

architect: AUM – Pierre Minassian | @aum_pierre_minassian
location: Lake Geneva, France

photography: Studio Erick Saillet | @studio_erick_saillet

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom