House in a Park in Zurich, Switzerland by Think Architecture

Think Architecture took lead from the surrounding nature in form and scale for House in a Park in Zurich, creating a ‘park –like’ plot comprised of a selection of freely arranged spaces that integrate harmoniously into the environment. Set on a sloping plot beside a forest overlooking Lake Zurich, the meandering shape conceals the expansive size of the property, with one storey embedded below ground to further reduce visual impact.

Facades project and recess according to the ebbs and flows of the surrounding parkland. Continuous exposed concrete facing around the edge of the roof almost acts as a lid, tying the unusual shape together. Exterior facades are clad with horizontally laid strips of light grey stone, accentuating the notion that the home rose up naturally from the earth. Full height oiled oak and anodized metal windows enhance a sophisticated, modernist aesthetic.

Every single room has direct access out to the park, offering different aspects of the mountainous vistas and Lake Zurich. The architects brought nature into the heart of the home with a central atrium, covered by a red cedar brise-soleil. This, coupled with deep recessed skylights dotted throughout, floods the house with natural light. The skylights also serve to provide an additional line of sight to the surrounding treetops. A cascading stone patio seamlessly disguises the embedded basement level.

The interiors are beautifully serene, with smooth, even surfaces of terrazzo, marble, and pale grey ceilings and walls. Living spaces, bedrooms, a music room and office are all upstairs, while the basement level contains a leisure and wellness space complete with indoor pool. Bedrooms are finished in darker shades to give a more secluded feel, with black quartz stone, stained oak and textured lime plaster walls.

A wide steel spiral staircase connects the two levels, adding a rounded, sculptural element amongst the sharp angles that characterize the rest of the design. Oak bookshelves with maze-like formations reach from the floors to the 3m high ceilings. Wavy red cedar beams form an acoustic panel and create an optical illusion suspended above the indoor pool, which is clad with black mosaic tiles.