Five semi-detached houses form a loose edge to the built-up area. The project meets today’s drive for denser development in two ways. On the one hand, the staggered arrangement of the buildings allows more efficient use of the plot, so both the development and the buildings behind it benefit from more sunlight and better views. On the other hand, the flexible layouts are designed to adapt easily to changing needs – for example, owners can divide their houses into two smaller three-room apartments once all the rooms are no longer needed. Roof terraces give each unit magnificent views of the breathtaking mountain panorama. Parking is located underground, leaving more open green space instead of asphalt, and all buildings are connected to the garage underground. A playground with benches serves not only children and families but also as a place to relax.
Alongside structural, functional, conceptual and design requirements, meeting the demands of a sustainable energy policy is becoming ever more important. This progressive project succeeded in reconciling all the requirements of modern construction without compromising on quality, utility or cost. As a pioneering project, it offers owners full participation in a self-consumption community (ZEV). Smart communication between all consumers allows surplus energy to be distributed optimally within the community before it is fed back into the grid. Central heat supply from an efficient groundwater heat pump, shared storage and programmed heating of domestic hot water during photovoltaic overproduction significantly increase the efficiency of the whole project. The development’s own 75 kWp solar power plant provides enough energy to cover its own consumption even in more diffuse weather.
Another key element is a shared electric car available to residents through car-sharing and charged optimally with the development’s own energy. Thanks to the durable construction, the aim is not to drive the economy through maintenance – quite the opposite: we try to avoid the kind of maintenance the economy might wish for.
Project details
| Name | 5 semi-detached houses in Uttigen |
| Project type | interior design |
| Implementation | 2019 – 2021 |