A 1990s apartment in the suburbs of Zurich was to be given a contemporary look and tailored to the needs of the clients, who have a penchant for architecture and design. After the transformation, the original apartment is almost unrecognizable.

The interior design focused on two main points: the visual axes and references between inside and outside, as well as the theme of spaciousness. The outdated interior design revealed an uneven picture due to materials, surfaces and colors that were not coordinated.

Upon entering the flat, the first view sweeps over the garden, the plane tree and the open plan living and dining area towards Lake Zurich. On the other side is a long corridor that leads to a mirrored wall, which visually enlarges the space and reflects the view outside. The corridor is characterized by a cube clad with elmwood, which contrasts with the light oak floorboards. The large-scale wood paneling of the volume creates uniformity and harmony in the interior and conceals the rooms behind it – only the inconspicuous door handles hint that there are entrances located here. In order to maintain the free flow between the rooms, the floor plan was designed to be as open as possible, so that on the one hand the feeling of spaciousness is reinforced and on the other hand the space is flooded with plenty of daylight without encountering any obstacles. In order to separate the living room from the entrance area, an open wooden slatted wall was installed, which allows daylight to enter and still creates a spatial separation between the two areas without closing them off completely.

Timeless and curated details were paired with high-quality materials in the redesign to create the character of modern elegance. Dark window frames were installed to frame the views of the garden: A magnolia was placed in the visual axis of the dressing room, whereas the view in the bedroom is of a hydrangea hillside.

The changing seasons should be perceptible.

The client wanted a garden with a modern design that would transform in every season and constantly create new images. At the same time, the focus was also on functional aspects, as the garden needed to meet the client’s requirements in terms of protection and privacy: a staggered bamboo hedge shields the property from the neighbors and directs the view towards Lake Zurich. The site was divided into several areas in order to bring together different possible usages. A graveled area was created behind the house, as the north-facing orientation does not provide ideal conditions for vegetation. Japan mountain grass, which thrives best in a cooler environment with a sunny to semi-shady exposure, as well as hydrangeas frame the graveled area and create a view of the greenery. On the east and west façades extends a spacious wooden deck with a dining area and seating for lounging. The main garden consists of a lawn landscape with a magnolia and a plane tree as a focal point, which positively influences the microclimate with its canopy of leaves framed by grasses and perennials.