Geneva Villa
Geneva, Switzerland
An elegant interplay of slender black and white frames defining the harmony between solids and voids
The Geneva Villa is a single-family residence located in a quiet residential neighborhood of Geneva, Switzerland.
The façade design was meticulously crafted to shield indoor spaces from the sun rays, ensuring a comfortable and cool ambiance during the warmest season. The varying depths of the frames are a culmination of meticulous shadow analysis and a thoughtful consideration of each outdoor space’s specific functions.
An artful arrangement of white sunken patios infuses the basement level with refreshing air and an abundance of natural light
At Basement Level, each space is connected to a private sunken patio cladded in white aluminum panels and surrounded by clear glass parapets, in order to maximize the amount of natural light below.
While the patio belonging to the swimming pool area integrates a Jacuzzi tub and a macro-bonsai inserted between rocks, the study room patio features a pond with a fountain integrated in the vegetation.
The South façade is configured with two main stacked black frames, corresponding to the Kitchen / Living Area’s terrace on the Ground Floor, and the bedrooms’ terrace on the upper level. All millwork, doors, vanities and kitchens are custom designed.
Since the South portion of the villa is taken by the Main Kitchen, Living Area and bedrooms, the horizontal and vertical circulation is developed on the North side. A Corian-cladded staircase connects the three levels and receives plenty of natural light from a large skylight above and from the large windows on the North façade. On the upper level, all bathrooms receive natural light from either skylights or windows, and the foyer facing North is screened with vertical louvers in order to provide privacy.
The villa reaches the highest standards of energy efficiency and it was granted a Minergie-P certificate. The high performance building envelope includes triple glazing windows and ventilated façades with Stiferite thermal insulation. The electric heat pump and the production of hot water benefit from the geothermal system reaching 110 m below ground, as well as from the solar and photovoltaic panels installed on the flat roof. A large rain water collection tank is buried in the garden and it serves the garden irrigation system.
