Large coplanar windows, the choice of Swiss technology

A community-based project – by housing type and structure – characterizes this sixteen apartments building arranged on four floors around a central core, with a common terrace situated on the roof top. In Solduno’s suburban area, used by residents as a community garden, the new construction acts as a permeable link between the neighbourhood and the Maggia river. The impact is reduced by partitioning two identical buildings, creating space between neighbours to grow new gardens, one for each apartment.

Building low cost requires a few steps economy and inventive capacity, assembling standard elements from the catalog in unexpected ways. Thus structure, construction and envelope are reduced to a minimum, and a square based modular grid regulates structure, floor plan and elevation, allowing flexibility and changes over time for the benefit of durability and ecology. Central cores, edge pillars and slabs are entirely visible on the inside, and represented by pilaster strips and belt courses on the outside.

The internal partitions and the building envelope are light. The facade cladding was made with handcrafted ceramic bricks and tiles. The units gather technical infrastructures, technical rooms and services on the inside. Thanks to its compact shape and high-performance envelope, the building has a CECE class A energy efficiency standard. The external doors and windows made by Veragouth and Xilema become an element of strong characterization of the building. The large coplanar windows – thanks to 4B Swiss technology – stand out in contrast to the narrow and angular profile, which offer a primitive minimalism aesthetic effect and a cleanliness of detail emphasized by a strong chromaticism.