schauman & nordgren architects + meyer architecture build two-family villa in lausanne

VILLA FAVRE IS A TWO-FAMILY HOUSE SITUATED IN NORTHERN LAUSANNE

schauman & nordgren architects + meyer architecture complete villa favre, a two-family house located in le mont-sur-lausanne, switzerland – a northern district of lausanne on lake geneva. the house comprises a 200 sqm residence for the favre family, as well as a 100 sqm unit that is rented out long-term.

all images courtesy of schauman & nordgren architects

designing villa favre with two-way privacy FOR BOTH FAMILIES

the team at schauman & nordgren architects made these allocations legible in the footprint of villa favre, which assumes an irregular hexagonal shape. this decision creates privacy for the two families, in turn. with the team at meyer architecture, SNA created separate entrances that face away from one another, as well as differently angled windows that prevent looking into the adjoining yard. the exterior façade further expresses that two-part interior configuration.

villa favre schauman nordgren architects meyer architecture 5

A CLEAR, VERTICAL COMPOSITION OF spatial FUNCTIONS

the ground floors of both residences are public areas for eating, working, and socializing, whereas the upper floors are meant for rest and relaxation. like a metaphor, the architects have fitted shutters to the upstairs windows that can be closed for the night. the building figuratively ‘closes’ its eyes when it goes to sleep. finally, a generous roof terrace with a garden tops the composition where the favre family can get stunning views of the gentle hillside site and the wider surroundings.

schauman & nordgren architects + meyer architecture build two-family villa in lausanne

emphasizing different floors with striated wood + concrete

exterior materials further illustrate the different functions of each floor, and SNA’s banding of striated concrete and wood visually emphasizes the wooded section. however, the same larch wood battens of the top floor were used to cast the in-situ concrete façade on the ground floor. the final relief creates a unique architectural expression with a beautiful play of light and shadow.

the larch wood battens offer a visual link between both floors