A simply perfect house

Single-Family House in Bottenwil

“Both me and the client were interested in the topic of optimal use of daylight.”

- Architect Juri Troy

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Architect: Juri Troy architects

The challenges in this project were to find solutions for a steep plot, where terrain should not be altered, while access from the street had to be provided, and deals with strict regulations on volume and form of the future house.

The answer to those complex requirements turned out to be a simple volume with symmetrical roof, opening to the landscape on each level, catching daylight from all possible sides - roof included.

The house is accessed from the street through a long staircase, starting in the garage. The kids' rooms are on the first floor, on the second a large living room provides views to all sides. It is an open space, yet it offers diverse cosy corners.

Although modest and straightforward, this house features some tiny everyday-life luxuries, such as an outdoor kitchen or the world's first pizza oven with passive house certificate.

Single-Family House in Bottenwil with VELUX windows Architect: Juri Troy architects; Photos: Jürg Zimmermann

Juri Troy

Architect

The roof windows are crucial for natural ventilation. It is enough to open them together with the terrace doors on the lower level for the warm, stale air to go up. It’s just the good old chimney effect.

Single-Family House in Bottenwil with VELUX roof windows

Architect: Juri Troy architects; Photos: Jürg Zimmermann

The main entrance leads from the street level, via garage floor and a long stairway to the living space. The upper floor, dedicated entirely to the adults, features a large bedroom, a bathroom with sauna, guest- and working room. All roof windows, oriented towards north, provide smooth daylight and fresh air to the rooms beneath.

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Architect: Juri Troy architects

This was possible thanks to a smart trick of the architect: he invented deep shafts, connecting the guest room to the openings on the opposite roof pitch. Diffused northern light creates a nice contrast with working area, bathed in midday sun rays.

VELUX solutions used in this case

Roof windows

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