architect leopold banchini in association with daniel zamarbide have designed a timber and concrete clad-cabin on the banks of the lake geneva. the ten-meter-wide panoramic window offers cinematic views, framing the surrounding dynamic nature.‘through a very expressive minerality of a concrete exterior,’ explains the architect, ‘the extension arrogantly jumps out of the existing house and literary shows the wood veins of the concrete formwork.’

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
the curved window cinematically frames the surrounding nature
all images © dylan perrenoud

 

to intervene in suburban environments where individual villas have occupied extensively what used to be an urban landscape proved to be a difficult task, according to both zamarbide and banchini. it is hard to be delicate in environments where the quality of architecture does not mean much, and as a result, the architects’ solution is to tackle this context with some brutality. using marble floors, walnut walls and concrete ceilings, the cabin sets itself apart amidst is traditional surrounding.

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
initial construction phase

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
wood, marble and concrete interior details

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
textured concrete

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
walnut wood walls

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
dark marble floor

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
window reflection

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
suburban landscape

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
panoramic window

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
concrete structure under construction

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
sunset

swiss cabin offers cinematic views of lake geneva through a 10 meter-wide window
concrete façade under construction

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynn chaya | designboom