Transparenz in Beton

The terraced house on a hillside plot in the Basel-Landschaft municipality of Füllinsdorf immediately catches the eye. It derives its striking appearance from its multi-layered design, but also from its staggered layout and, in particular, its unusual flat roof. This visual distinction from the neighbouring buildings creates a pleasing contrast to the prevailing architecture in the neighbourhood.

WANNERPARTNER has gently embedded the three-storey exposed concrete house, with an exposed concrete pool integrated into the living area, into the hillside. It is one of a total of three narrow, elongated terraced houses, which together form a single unit, and is the home of the architect himself. The house unfolds a wonderful, multi-layered living panorama in this location – with unobstructed views and rich references to the surrounding landscape.

The finish is high-quality and the interior design is bright and friendly. Thanks to the three-sided exposure, the rooms receive natural light and moods from different sun positions. Many differently designed areas and courtyards, visual connections, spatial openings and plantings – where you least expect them – make the house a spatial marvel.

Access is provided by the basement with its huge garage, which connects the building complex. A bamboo forest planted in an open design accompanies those arriving. They are greeted with a light installation and music "to create a feeling of welcome as soon as they turn off their engines," says architect Wanner.

The opulent interior design offers a wide range of uses and many details that combine to create a composite of modern elegance. Clear lines, a compact volume in solid construction, a sensible room layout, surprising views and wonderful vistas, wellness components and trees in all courtyards further characterise this stylish residential building.

The central atrium on the middle or ground floor divides the floor plan into two main parts, each of which is connected to the other via the access zone. There are a total of six different outdoor areas. These include the so-called outdoor courtyard on the base or entrance floor, which is only partially covered. This makes it a contemplative element that opens up the starry sky to the guest area at night or allows the patter of rain to be experienced – for example, on the massive courtyard wall, a concrete slab reaching up to the atrium and supports for the two or split attic structures.

Thanks to the three-and-a-half-metre ceiling height in the basement, a gallery platform, accessible via the spiral staircase (both made of raw steel), offers additional guest sleeping space. The wellness area is located in another layer of space behind it, with a sauna and a concrete cube that can be used as a cool-hot pot, behind which a walk-in shower accessible from both sides is concealed.

Above the guest area is the atrium, which serves as an additional courtyard. The living rooms are located on the other side, with a living room and adjoining large terrace, whose integrated swimming pool forms a wonderful splash of blue amid the contrast between light and dark colours. The kitchenette is also unique, designed as an inserted natural stone block that pleasantly divides the cooking and dining areas and also incorporates the "inside-outside" theme, as the floor-to-ceiling glazing visually incorporates the adjacent veranda. As a garden courtyard, the veranda, from which the actual garden is also accessible, spatially integrates the winter garden with its fireplace and the hillside outdoor pavilion.

Between the two main parts, the corridor on both the ground floor and the attic is enlivened by a striking library or bookshelf. On the valley side, the office forms the end of the top floor, with an accompanying roof terrace and evening sun. On the hillside side, the night area organises the sophisticated sequence of rooms consisting of a bedroom, dressing room and master bathroom, with a bamboo courtyard integrated into the sequence.

Both outside and inside, the house thrives on a finely differentiated balance between contemplative and exposed elements, between incisions, closed and open forms – seemingly expressionistic – like a collage in which the space unfolds. A volume rich in layers, a skilful accentuation of building components.

The wonderful thing about this building is that what it explores in terms of interior space on a total of three floors is expressed on the outside in a playful and slightly floating style.