House in Ettingen, CH

2019 unrealized




There was a house there before — a timber structure resting on a concrete and brick basement. One night, a tragedy struck: within hours, the wooden part was gone, consumed by fire. Only the basement remained.

The brief called for a new home, replicating the original volume and room count, all within a strict budget. Our proposal retained the existing basement and introduced a new concrete table above it — a structural platform that liberates the ground floor and allows for flexibility in future adaptations above.

With the ground floor freed, we placed a central timber core that integrates the staircase, parts of the kitchen, a compact bathroom, and built-in furniture. This move opened the space to a panoramic glass enclosure — creating lightness, views, and continuity with the surroundings.

Upstairs, the layout closely follows that of the old house, with minor adjustments.

The entire envelope is constructed almost entirely from prefabricated timber elements, allowing for precision, speed, and economy in execution.