Archinect - News2024-11-23T19:18:39-05:00https://archinect.com/news/article/150446372/this-swiss-minimalist-home-was-designed-as-a-blank-canvas-to-reflect-its-lake-geneva-surroundings
This Swiss minimalist home was designed as a 'blank canvas' to reflect its Lake Geneva surroundings Nathaniel Bahadursingh2024-09-13T11:42:00-04:00>2024-09-16T11:38:12-04:00
<img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/82/82e25aa6e950253258685e73da614093.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/556077/geneva" target="_blank">Geneva</a>, <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/4057/switzerland" target="_blank">Switzerland</a>-based firm <a href="https://archinect.com/firms/cover/150096148/leopold-banchini-architects" target="_blank">Leopold Banchini Architects</a> has designed a sleek, minimalist home intended to reflect its alpine and waterside surroundings. </p>
<figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/ac/ac906388c2e34bbad44d4526e36fbd77.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/ac/ac906388c2e34bbad44d4526e36fbd77.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image: Rory Gardiner</figcaption></figure><p>Located beside Lake Geneva, looking out at the Alps, Villa M was likened, by the architects, to the work of Swiss painter Ferdinant Hodler. His paintings often depicted mountains reflected in Swiss lakes. <br></p>
<figure><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/90/906cef555b0d4cf74cb123b4f98b51f6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/90/906cef555b0d4cf74cb123b4f98b51f6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image: Rory Gardiner</figcaption></figure><p>As a reaction to its landscape, the home was built to stay as simple and humble as possible. Its long, plain façade is described as a blank canvas, which reflects into a water basin of the same length. Here, a singular long window opens onto a floating terrace that is of a similar size. </p><p><br></p><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/a5/a5f3e5a706cef8228f930a517c814bd5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/a5/a5f3e5a706cef8228f930a517c814bd5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"><br><br></a>Image: Rory Gardiner</p></figure></figure><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/1d/1d4ae24c2567746aeab4a8d52606cb22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/1d/1d4ae24c2567746aeab4a8d52606cb22.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image: Rory Gardiner</figcaption></figure><p>The building’s long rectangular plan, constrained by building regulations, is spread across three levels. A wooden spiral staircase connects the floors. </p>
<figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/60/60aad450006403d2741326243eca60d1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/60/60aad450006403d2741326243eca60d1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image: Rory Gardiner</figcaption></figure><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/5e/5ed9291cb500811aba2002fea86e9408.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/5e/5ed9291cb500811aba2002fea86e9408.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image: Rory Gardiner</figcaption></figure><p>The ground floor living spaces mainly open out to the surroundings, whil...</p>