living with a castle view
The starting point for the project was advice given on the value and potential of a property that the owners were considering selling. The single family house, part of an ensemble of three buildings on the Böllihang in Lenzburg, was looking somewhat old but required only light renovation. The 1800m2 plot, however, had increased significantly in value due to a planning zone adjustment. Ultimately the possibility for new build defined the selling price, which was set too high for interested parties who might have occupied the house. It was to be feared that an architecturally interesting house would fall victim to unsympathetic design and be torn down.
We divided the land, house and land-use reserve in such a manner that a buyer was found for the single family house. A parcel of land was sectioned off where a residential build with three individual units could be designed. Three buyers were found that created a building consortium to realise the project with us. The different parties had not known each other prior to this. From their common interest and the responsibilities they carried together grew an inseparable living community.
The character of the calm, leafy residential area with its gently growing structure remains, even with the new framework. Thanks to variations in volumes and suitable materials the new build blends in well within the still low-level neighbourhood.
Project living with a castle view
Location Brunnmattstrasse, Lenzburg
Type New build
Use Residential
Build 2011
Photography André van der Westhuizen
Photography b/w Markus Lüscher