Geneva, Switzerland-based firm Leopold Banchini Architects has designed a sleek, minimalist home intended to reflect its alpine and waterside surroundings.
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.
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.
Image: Rory Gardiner
The building’s long rectangular plan, constrained by building regulations, is spread across three levels. A wooden spiral staircase connects the floors.
The ground floor living spaces mainly open out to the surroundings, while the underground bedrooms open to an enclosed, inaccessible patio, which is filled with a thin layer of rainwater collected from the roof.
Light reflects from the home’s water basins onto the interior’s wooden walls and ceiling.
1 Comment
I often wonder how many people live in each uber-privileged and highly architected house.
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