Beck Oser Architekten
Witterswilerstrasse houses, Bättwil
best architects 24
multi-family homes
Place
Basel, Switzerland
Studio
Photos
Börje Müller
Description
The terraced houses are located in the centre of
Bättwil, in the courtyard area of a historical residential building with a large
barn. The houses are meant to blend into the historical structure and be
perceived as a supplement to the existing buildings. This is achieved by their
volumetric formulation as simple structures with a gable roof and the
materialisation with tiled roof and wooden façade. Nevertheless, the new buildings
should be clearly recognisable as such. The deliberate elaboration of details
of projections and recesses as well as the differentiated use of wooden boards and
panels creates a subtle modernity and shows that these are added residential
units. The stairwells are located on the entrance façade of each of the four
houses. This allows the difference in terrain height to be mastered while
affording maximum floor plan flexibility. The kitchen with cloakroom stands
free in the room like a piece of furniture and divides the open floor plan into
dining and living areas. On the upper floor there are two spacious bedrooms
with bathroom. The attic space can also be used for two bedrooms or one large one
with shower and dressing room. The basement is built in solid construction,
with the other floors made of pre-fabricated timber elements with ventilated larch
wood façades. The flexible arrangement of spaces and the simple, honest
construction result in houses with high-quality living space at reasonable
prices.