Project Name: Birkenweg “ living in the woods”
Architecture Firm: Curzio Ardinghi Architecture with Andres Carosio
Contact e-mail: scognamiglio@ardinghi.ch
Firm Location: Zurich, Switzerland

Completion Year: 2020
Gross Built Area: 1200 m2
Project location: Zollikon, ZH, Switzerland

Lead Architects: Curzio Ardinghi
Lead Architects e-mail: ardinghi@ardinghi.ch
Design Team: Alessandro Scognamiglio, Daniel Noguera

Photo credits: Bruno Helbling

This is an aerial view of the corner of the house with dark brown wooden structures complemented by the tall trees.

This is a closer look at the upper level corner of the house showcasing two terraces that almost touch the tips of the tall trees.

This is a view of the front of the house with a wide driveway, lush landscaping and a main entrance that has a set of glass doors flanked by tall trees.

This nighttime view of the front of the house showcases the warm glow of the interiors excaping through the glass windows and doors.

This is a close look at the balconies of the upper levels with dark brown railings to match the exterior walls and potted plants.

This is an exterior view of the house that showcases more of the various outdoor areas and balconies of the house fitted with lounge areas and outdoor dining areas.

This side of the house exterior has more glass walls and windows to maximize the view of the landscape beyond and let in natural light.

This is a look at the back of the house that showcases more of the property, landscaping and fencing with a view of the large house filled iwth glass walls and wooden slats.

This is a close look at the exterior wall of the house with a unique wooden slats design that pairs well with the surrounding landscape.

This is a look at the living room that has a modern two-way fireplace and a set of beige sectional sofa.

This is the bathroom with a glass door, a two sink vanity and a bathtub across from it.

This is a look at the kitchen from the entryway. It has a dark wooden tone on its cabinetry and island that matches well with the hardwood flooring.

This is a close look at a hallway within the house with dark wooden built-in cabinets on the side and glass walls on the other.

This is a close look at the modern staircase with beige steps and glass railings on the side complemented with modern warm lighting.

This is a closer look at the front of the house showcasing more of the miniature garden by the entrance and the driveway that leads to the underground parking.

This is a close look at the house's terrace balcony with dark brown metal railings to match the dark brown exterior walls fitted with various lounge areas.

This is an exterior view of the house edge with dark brown exterior walls that pair well with the surrounding tall trees.

This is an illustration of the house elevation and site map.

This is an illustration of the house's ground level floor plan.

This is an illustration of the house's upper level floor plan.

This is an illustration of the house's cross section elevation with sections of the interior.

The property is located right on the edge of the forest. The main challenge was to integrate the building into the existing natural surroundings creating an ideal connection to the woods. Therefore this project was inspired by nature. Despite its location close to the city, it is particularly influenced by the nearby forest.

The tranquillity, the green of the trees, and the chirping of the birds are part of everyday life here. From the desire to convey a feeling of living in contact with the natural environment, the idea of the project is to create apartments and terraces that seem to float above the tree canopy. The apartments are all south-facing, each of them with its own surrounding terrace, which provides plenty of privacy. The real invention is the façade, which is a unique innovation in terms of technology and design.

The exterior skin is made of thin metal slats that wrap around the whole building giving a textile look. It is in a natural, light bronze tone, which blends in perfectly with the green surroundings. The metal slats have no reflection effect, but they playfully take up the green tones of the surroundings. Rather than denying the forest, we established a dialogue between the building and the context.

The garden floor is made of beige, sandblasted, exposed concrete. Because of the property location, the garden became a central element of the project. The north area, which is next to the street, is planted with suitable plants and trees that act as a filter to the residential complex. Thanks to the choice of native plants, a gentle transition between the residential garden and the forest are created on the south side.