Dubbed Casetta Tessino, a tiny and modern treehouse by Olin Petzold stands in the woods of Valle Onsernone, Switzerland. Completed in early 2024, the elevated timber structure sits apart from an existing house on a steep, forested plot near the village of Loco, positioned as a place for writing and short-term retreat.

The commission came from a Swiss artist and climate activist seeking a secluded writer’s workspace away from the main house. Petzold describes the initial brief as deliberately spare. ‘The idea was to create a place with only the essentials,’ he tells designboom. ‘A place to sleep, a place to sit, and a place to write.’ The reference to Henry David Thoreau’s Walden lends a shared point of departure, with an emphasis on withdrawal and self-sufficiency.

Following completion, the cabin is intended to be shared with other writers and creatives, with its occupation expected to vary with season and user.

images (shot on film) © Peter Tillessen

Olin Petzold’s  suspended triangular structure

Casetta Tessino is built by architect Olin Petzold as a response to local zoning regulations, which prohibit additions to the existing building stock and the creation of new foundations. Thus, an elevated structure was set within the forest canopy, sited around 100 to 150 meters from the main house. The cabin hovers among three mature oak trees, accessed by foot along a narrow woodland path.

A freely suspended support system connects three primary beams to the trees, forming an irregular triangular frame. On this, an equilateral triangle defines the floor plan, rotated so that its corners project between the trunks. One face turns toward the slope, while the other two open up and down the valley, aligning views along the terrain rather than toward the main house.

Casetta Tessino sits elevated among oak trees in Valle Onsernone

compact and minimalist interiors

Inside, Olin Petzold’s Casetta Tessino is reduced to a single compact room. The bed is set flush within the floor plane and revealed by lifting four wooden panels when in use. During the day, the surface reads as continuous timber decking. Two fixed planks define the remaining furnishings, one serving as a bench and the other as a desk.

‘The room should feel almost empty when you enter,’ Petzold explains. ‘Everything that is there has a clear task.’ All three facades can be opened, turning the interior into a sheltered platform within the forest. When closed, the space becomes a contained volume with views filtered through translucent surfaces.

a rotated triangular plan is suspended from three trees without foundations

a timber structure wrapped in polycarbonate

The structural frame and interior elements are built from spruce, chosen for its light weight and workability. Larch is used for the exterior timber components due to its durability and resistance to moisture in a shaded, humid environment. The building skin incorporates translucent polycarbonate panels, allowing daylight to permeate the interior while softening direct views outward.

The polycarbonate plays a climatic role as well. In summer, the surrounding foliage shades the cabin, moderating heat gain. In the colder months, with leaves gone, low winter sun passes through the panels and warms the interior air. The material remains visually understated, reading as a pale, diffused surface among trunks and branches.

the project is designed by architect Olin Petzold as a secluded writing retreat

the treehouse built by hand

The remote location shaped both detailing and construction method. All components were designed to be carried by hand, with no machinery brought to the site. Joints and assemblies were simplified so they could be executed without specialist tools or training.

‘This was conceived as a self-build from the beginning,’ says Petzold. ‘The details had to work with what could realistically be done on site.’ Timber became the primary material through necessity as much as intention, meeting structural, logistical, and economic constraints. All materials are inexpensive, though this economy is largely concealed in the finished work.

the interior is reduced to a floor, bed, a bench, and a desk

spruce and larch form the structure and exterior surfaces

translucent polycarbonate wraps the structure and filters forest light

all components were carried and assembled by hand on site

project info:

name: Casetta Tessino

architect: Olin Petzold

location: Valle Onsernone, Switzerland

completion: 2024

photography: © Peter Tillessen | @peter.tillessen

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Casa Vernate, a renovated home by Enrico Sassi Architetto, sits on a wooded slope above the Agno–Porto Ceresio branch of Lake Lugano in Vernate, Switzerland. Designed in 1972 by Unterlöhner + Waibel of Ulm, the single-family house occupies a narrow terrace with long views toward the water and surrounding hills.

The original structure combines exposed brick walls with a load-bearing timber system insulated and clad in wood. An asymmetrical gable roof shapes the interior of the sleeping wing, where sloped ceilings follow the roofline. Toward the forest, the facade is fully covered with prefabricated roofing tiles, while the living room faces the landscape through wide glazed openings.

images © Marcelo Villada Ortiz

enrico sassi architetto’s split-level plan

Architect Enrico Sassi organizes the renovated Casa Vernate across two offset levels within a single story volume. Entrance, kitchen, and living room occupy the lower level, while bedrooms and bathrooms sit upstream on a raised plane. The living area projects outward and rests partly on pillars, leaving the ground visible beneath the volume.

Interior finishes from the original construction remain legible throughout the plan. Floors were laid in red Klinker tiles, and walls were built in exposed brick with recessed joints. Coconut fibre carpet covered the living room and bedrooms, while wooden doors and partitions were coated in glossy lacquer in dark blue, yellow, and ivory white.

Casa Vernate stands on a wooded slope above Lake Lugano

upgraded performance and services

The renovation by Enrico Sassi Architetto addresses the house as an existing assembly of materials and systems. The oil-fired heating system has been replaced with an air–water heat pump, paired with new pipework and radiators distributed across the plan.

Single-glazed windows have been upgraded to insulated double glazing while preserving the original wooden frames. Bathroom windows have been replaced in full. Additional insulation has been introduced beneath the living room floor slab, adding thermal performance without altering the visible structure above.

the house was designed in 1972 by Unterlöhner and Waibel in Ulm

a modernist color palette

Floor finishes in the living spaces have been updated with Ruckstuhl Flow Sisal carpet. Lacquered wood surfaces have been repainted in their original chromatic range, with tones adjusted according to Le Corbusier’s Les couleurs palette. Bleu outremer 59, le jaune vif, and blanc ivoire appear across doors and partitions.

The kitchen has been entirely replaced with a new stainless steel installation. Its reflective surfaces sit alongside the brick walls and timber ceiling, maintaining the material contrast present in the original house.

the living room projects outward and rests partly on pillars above the terrain

lake views framed through a brickwork structure

Large windows in the living room continue to frame views across Lake Lugano, with palm trees and wooded slopes visible from the interior. The suspended living volume retains its relationship to the terrain, with light passing beneath the floor edge and along the brick piers.

Across Casa Vernate, the renovation by Enrico Sassi maintains the spatial sequence established in 1972. Brickwork, timber structure, and updated systems coexist within the existing envelope, preserving the house’s relationship to its site and construction history.

exposed brick walls and a load bearing timber structure define the original construction

an asymmetrical gable roof shapes the sleeping spaces with sloped ceilings

lacquered wood surfaces are painted according to Le Corbusier’s Les couleurs palette

the plan is organized across two offset levels within a single volume

project info:

name: Casa Vernate

architect: Enrico Sassi Architetto | @enricosassiarchitetto

location: Ticino, Switzerland

completion: 2025

photography: © Marcelo Villada Ortiz | @marcelovilladaortiz

construction: Bosisio A. Sagl
HVAC: Equans Switzeralnd AG
carpenter: Cavaleri Carlo SA
electrician: Jermini Elettricità SA
plumber: Jörg Soldati
kitchen: Tiba AG
plasterer: Willy Robbiani Costruzioni SA
painter: SP Color SA
metalworker: Bernasconi Renato SA
upholsterer: Knupfer arredamenti
exterior works: Inalbero

The post casa vernate: architect enrico sassi revisits a 1970s lake house in switzerland appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

PHARE YLLIAM is a lighthouse developed by BUREAU architecture firm for the waterfront of Geneva, Switzerland. Lighthouses carry a clear functional purpose and a distinct spatial presence. As singular vertical structures positioned at the edges of landmasses, they serve as navigational markers and contribute to the reading of the surrounding landscape. The project works within this typology while adapting it to the specific conditions of Geneva’s harbor.

Unlike traditional coastal sites often associated with dramatic cliffs or exposed terrain, the Geneva waterfront presents a calm, controlled environment. The project responds by reinforcing its infrastructural identity rather than replicating the familiar aesthetic of conventional lighthouse silhouettes. Set against a landscape of riprap, the structure emphasizes its role as part of a broader system rather than a symbolic standalone figure.

all images by Dylan Perrenoud

Layered Vertical Sequence defines PHARE YLLIAM Lighthouse

The design references the hyperboloid structures developed by early 20th-century Soviet engineer Vladimir Shukhov, particularly their efficiency, transparency, and structural lightness. This approach results in a lattice form that visually shifts with changing light and atmospheric conditions, allowing the lighthouse to appear and recede depending on the viewpoint. Its vertical structure is anchored by a solid mineral base, a reinterpretation of the stone blocks that line the harbor.

The project also introduces a new spatial sequence along this extension into the lake. The interior program spans three levels, each offering distinct spatial conditions. The base level forms a sheltered interior with a panoramic opening toward the water. Above it, a compact cabin-like space provides an elevated 360-degree view across the lake. At the top, a movable lantern constitutes the project’s key functional element. Integrated within the structural pillars, the lantern can be raised or lowered to accommodate operational and environmental needs.

PHARE YLLIAM by BUREAU design studio integrates structural experimentation, infrastructural clarity, and site-specific landscape considerations. Through its form, material strategy, and operational features, the project proposes a contemporary interpretation of the lighthouse as both a working element of the harbor and an architectural structure shaped by its immediate context.

PHARE YLLIAM introduces a new lighthouse structure to the Geneva waterfront

positioned on riprap, the lighthouse integrates with the existing shoreline landscape

the project reinterprets the traditional lighthouse typology for an urban harbor context

the vertical form acts as a navigational marker along the edge of Lake Geneva

the project operates as both a functional harbor element and an architectural intervention

the middle level resembles a compact cabin with a full 360-degree view

the lattice geometry responds to light, atmosphere, and changing viewpoints

the uppermost section houses a lantern integrated within the structural pillars

the lightweight framework creates shifting visual transparency throughout the day

project info:

name: PHARE YLLIAM

architect: BUREAU

lead designers: Daniel Zamarbide | @daniel_zamarbide, Carine Pimenta, Galliane Zamarbide

location: Geneva Lake, Switzerland

area: 160 sqm

photographer: Dylan Perrenoud

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post BUREAU highlights lake geneva lighthouse’s lattice geometry with blue accents appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

In Zurich, Santiago Calatrava marks the completion of Haus zum Falken, a mixed-use building that breathes new life into the Stadelhofen Station area. Located at the eastern edge of Stadelhofer Platz, the project closes an architectural gap beside the historic main building that accommodates the station while introducing a public square, a large underground bicycle station, and light-filled interior spaces. The development (find designboom’s previous coverage here) continues Calatrava’s long-standing engagement with the area, which began in the 1980s when he designed the adjacent Stadelhofen Station. ‘The area around the Haus zum Falken is very familiar to me, as I was involved in the construction of the Stadelhofen Station here for eight years,’ he recalls. ‘That was followed by seven more stations that I had the opportunity to build in various locations.’

Calatrava describes Haus zum Falken as ‘an artistic event in the city.’ Its glass facade undulates across five levels, with vertical profiles and reflections shifting light and movement. Its articulated cornice and folded geometry lend the building a presence that changes with the time of day.

all images by Ingo Rasp

redefining stadelhofen’s urban landscape

Haus zum Falken anchors the east end of Stadelhofer Platz, completing a network of connected public spaces stretching from Lake Zurich to the Opera House and Sechseläutenplatz. Together with the Olivenbaum building to the west, it frames the historic structure of the station. A recessed ground floor creates Falkensteg Square, an open public area defined by the existing stair bridge that connects the station to the neighborhood above.

On Kreuzbühlstrasse, the eastern edge of the building introduces a small forecourt lined with greenery, offering views toward Zurich’s Grossmünster towers. One of the project’s most ambitious components lies beneath the surface. Responding to the City of Zurich’s initiative to reorganize bicycle traffic, Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava integrated an underground bicycle station with capacity for more than 800 bikes. The three-level facility frees Stadelhofer Platz from open-air parking, returning its surface to pedestrians and urban greenery. Building this structure in the tight, waterlogged site presented major technical challenges, ultimately resolved through an intricate foundation system and waterproofing strategy. Now complete, the subterranean complex stands as a critical piece of Zurich’s sustainable mobility network.

in Zurich, Santiago Calatrava marks the completion of Haus zum Falken

light-filled interiors and environmental performance

The stone plinth of the structure extends material dialogues with Zurich’s traditional facades along Bahnhofstrasse. Slender stone pillars mark the entrances, while the facade above transitions to glass and metal. Inside, a four-story atrium and sculptural staircase form the spatial heart of the building, hosting a sinuous interior volume. The upper floors are conceived as column-free rental spaces, adaptable to varied uses. Large windows frame views toward the promenade and the city beyond, while the dense rhythm of the facade creates a sense of privacy within.

The building meets rigorous environmental standards, achieving LEED Gold certification and exceeding Minergie-P benchmarks. A photovoltaic roof generates on-site energy, and the building envelope is optimized for thermal and acoustic performance. Even with trams and trains running just meters away, interior noise remains minimal. Wood and gold-toned finishes complete the double-height foyer, echoing the rhythm of the exterior facade, creating a warm, luminous space that welcomes visitors from Stadelhofer Platz and the elevated promenade.

this mixed-use building that breathes new life into the Stadelhofen Station area

the project closes a key architectural gap beside the historic main building

introducing a public square, a large underground bicycle station, and light-filled interior spaces

the glass facade undulates across five levels

the upper floors are conceived as column-free rental spaces

the dense rhythm of the facade creates a sense of privacy within

the building envelope is optimized for thermal and acoustic performance

a four-story atrium and sculptural staircase form the spatial heart of the building

wood and gold-toned finishes complete the double-height foyer

welcoming visitors from Stadelhofer Platz and the elevated promenade

Haus zum Falken meets rigorous environmental standards, achieving LEED Gold certification

project info:

name: Haus zum Falken

architect: Santiago Calatrava | @calatravaofficial

location: Zurich, Switzerland

area: 2,275 square meters

The post santiago calatrava sculpts haus zum falken in zurich with folded glass facade appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The new twin sports halls in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, designed by kit architects, employ an innovative timber construction system that prioritizes spatial efficiency, resource conservation, and material sustainability. The compact, vertically organized layout enables both halls to fit within a limited footprint, reducing land use while maintaining functional capacity. The structure introduces Switzerland’s first application of a timber-concrete composite ceiling in a sports facility, offering a lighter and more resource-efficient alternative to conventional reinforced concrete systems.

A defining feature of the project is the extensive use of regionally sourced ‘beetle wood,’ harvested from the public client’s own state forest. Of the 603 cubic meters of timber used, 565 cubic meters were obtained locally. This approach minimizes transportation distances, lowers carbon emissions, and supports regional forestry management. The volume of timber used in the project regenerates naturally in Swiss forests within approximately 30 minutes, underscoring the renewable capacity of this resource.

all images courtesy of kit architects

Exposed Timber Structure shapes Sports Halls BZT Frauenfeld

Architecturally, the building expresses its construction logic through clearly articulated timber frameworks. The structural rhythm is visible on the exterior, complemented by continuous ribbon windows that emphasize horizontal proportions and daylight access. Inside, spruce timber surfaces contribute to a warm, balanced interior atmosphere and stable indoor climate.

The project is conceived with a circular construction strategy: its modular components can be dismantled and reused, extending material life cycles and reducing waste. Through its integration of local materials, modular planning, and hybrid timber engineering, Sports Halls BZT Frauenfeld by architectural studio kit establishes a reference model for resource-efficient and sustainable public architecture in Switzerland.

twin sports halls in Frauenfeld designed by kit architects feature a compact, vertical timber structure

the project combines spatial efficiency with sustainable material use

two stacked halls occupy a limited footprint, conserving valuable land resources

Switzerland’s first timber-concrete composite ceiling is implemented in a sports facility

the hybrid ceiling system provides a lighter, more efficient alternative to reinforced concrete

regionally sourced ‘beetle wood’ forms the primary construction material

of 603 cubic meters of wood used, 565 cubic meters were harvested from local forests

ample daylight enters through the linear glazing bands along the facade

interior walls and ceilings feature exposed spruce timber surfaces

the project integrates hybrid timber engineering with modular planning

the exterior reveals the rhythm of the timber structure through its expressed framework

continuous ribbon windows emphasize the building’s horizontal proportions

project info:

name: Sports Halls BZT Frauenfeld
architect: kit architects | @kitarchitects

location: Frauenfeld, Switzerland

area: 2468 sqm

The post vertical timber construction shapes twin stacked sports halls in switzerland by kit appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Le Corbusier’s iconic residential buildings, originally conceived as experiments in how people can live together, are still welcoming residents more than seventy years later. Recent property listings in Marseille, Paris, and Geneva show that these apartments are opportunities to live inside some of the most influential works of modern architecture. From the massive Cité Radieuse on the Marseille waterfront to the glass-fronted Molitor building in Boulogne-Billancourt, each space reflects Le Corbusier’s ideas about design, proportion, and community.

These buildings were meant to be lived in, adapted, and tested over time, housing real homes with terraces, kitchens, and fireplaces, where everyday life continues inside structures that once redefined modern living.

originally conceived as experiments in how people can live together | image © Valérie Ruperti photographe

Duplex Apartment in Cité Radieuse preserves original furnishings

In Marseille, the Cité Radieuse, completed in 1952, remains the most emblematic of Le Corbusier’s ‘unité d’habitation’ models. To purchase an apartment here is to become part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also part of an active community that still echoes with the optimism of postwar reconstruction.

One of the apartments currently on the market is an ascending Type G duplex occupying a high floor, offering 127 square meters of living space over two levels. The lower level features an entrance with storage that opens into a living space under a double-height ceiling. The open kitchen, designed by Charlotte Perriand, integrates with the dining and lounge areas, which extend toward a terrace framed by the glass facade and sea views.

A Jean Prouvé staircase leads to the upper level, a cross-through space dedicated to the night area. This includes a master suite with a bathroom and terrace overlooking the sea, two children’s bedrooms with balconies, a shower room, a fourth bedroom with its own bathroom, and generous storage. The children’s bedrooms are arranged in elongated layouts divided into three zones: a toilet and wash area, a rest area, and a play area connected to the neighboring room through a sliding partition.

the Cité Radieuse was completed in 1952 | image © Valérie Ruperti photographe

Modernist Living in Paris: 5th-Floor Apartment in Molitor

In Paris, the Molitor building (1931–34), designed in collaboration with Pierre Jeanneret and classified as a Historic Monument in 2017, stands as the city’s first residential block with a fully glazed facade, a precursor to the glass-and-steel towers of international modernism. Anchoring Boulogne-Billancourt, a neighborhood that in the interwar years attracted avant-garde artists, filmmakers, and designers, the building once housed Le Corbusier’s own apartment and studio on its upper floors.

The 112-square-meter renovated apartment listed occupies the 5th floor and opens onto a 9-square-meter continuous balcony with unobstructed views of the Jean Bouin Stadium and the sculptural Parc des Princes. Its living space includes a living room and dining area with an open kitchen, allowing light to pour in through the large glass roof and glass-brick balcony railing. The sleeping quarters include a master suite with balcony access, a secondary bedroom, a shower room, and separate toilets, while a cellar and parking space complete the offering.

The apartment’s volume is articulated by the structural pillars of the building, while the renovation embraces a restrained palette and high-quality finishes that enhance the geometric clarity and spatial logic of Le Corbusier’s design.

an ascending Type G duplex | image © FLC/ADAGP 2025 © Magali Joannon

Through-Flat Apartment with Terraces in Geneva’s Clarté

Further north in Geneva, the 1932 Clarté building distills yet another vision. Known as the Maison de Verre (House of Glass), it was created for an affluent clientele who sought the advantages of modern construction without abandoning comfort. With its modular concrete frame and prefabricated components, Clarté exemplified industrial rationalization while still offering flexible layouts. Its glazed facades incorporate wooden sun-shading galleries and stairwells illuminated through glass-block floors. After threats of demolition, the building was saved, restored by Pascal Häusermann and Bruno Camoletti in the 1970s, and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. 

The 169-square-meter through-flat currently for sale occupies a prime position within the building. Meticulously renovated, the apartment preserves the Corbusian character of Clarté through generous volumes, high ceilings, and quality materials that complement the building’s original architectural features. Residents also benefit from the building’s celebrated communal design, featuring transparent landings and glass-block staircases that diffuse light throughout the core. A cellar completes the offering, rounding out one of the most desirable properties in this emblematic house of glass.

Another apartment in the building for sale, designed with an ascending logic, spans 277 square-meters over two levels. The lower floor includes an entrance hall, a versatile smoking room that can function as a bedroom or office, and a double-height living room illuminated by a striking facade of armored and clear glass, opening onto a running balcony. 

a living space under a double-height ceiling | image © FLC/ADAGP 2025 © Magali Joannon

Turning Bold Architectural Ideas into Ordinary Lives

These three buildings show how Le Corbusier’s ideas about housing changed over time and place: from the experimental community in Marseille to the open, airy designs in Paris to the precise, clear forms in Geneva. What were once bold visions for how people could live are now prized addresses in the real estate market. Yet it’s the people who continue to live in them that keep them alive, modernist ideas turned into everyday life. Living in one of these apartments lets you experience modern design as a part of daily life.

inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site | image © FLC/ADAGP 2025 © Magali Joannon

the apartment features the original furnishings | image © FLC/ADAGP 2025 © Magali Joannon

the Molitor building in Paris, designed with Pierre Jeanneret | © FLC / ADAGP 2025 © Manuel Bougot

the building once housed Le Corbusier’s own apartment and studio | image © FLC / ADAGP 2025 © Manuel Bougot

the city’s first residential block with a fully glazed facade | image © FLC / ADAGP 2025 © Manuel Bougot

the 1932 Clarté building is known as the Maison de Verre | image © FLC / ADAGP 2024

inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 | image © FLC / ADAGP 2024

designed with an ascending logic | image © FLC / ADAGP 2024

a double-height living room illuminated by a striking facade | image © FLC / ADAGP 2024

the 169-square-meter through-flat occupies a prime position within the building | image © FLC / ADAGP 2024

the apartment preserves the Corbusian character of Clarté | image © FLC / ADAGP 2024

project info:

name: Le Corbusier’s apartment listings

architects: Le Corbusier

location: Cité Radieuse, Marseille, France | Molitor building, Paris, France | Clarté building, Geneva, Switzerland 

real estate agency: Architecture de Collection | @architecturedecollection

The post step inside le corbusier’s icons: apartments in marseille, paris, and geneva listed for sale appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Foster + Partners has received planning permission for its Gstaad House, a multipurpose project within the Swiss Alpine town. With this upcoming project, the British design studio will introduce to the valley a dedicated exhibition and storage space for art, automobiles, couture garments, and antiques. This varied programming means that the work combines public galleries, private collection spaces, and a members’ club in a single, carefully detailed timber structure.

Positioned within the gentle contours of the surrounding mountains, Gstaad House takes its cues from the natural terrain. The architecture mirrors the undulating landscape with a sloped facade and flat roofline, while a continuous ramp wraps around the exterior, linking each level and offering a gradual ascent for both visitors and their vehicles.

The exterior is clad in local larch, a choice that anchors the building to its alpine setting and filters daylight into the interiors. A screen of vertical timber slats softens the transition between the structure and the valley, while large openings frame sweeping views of the surrounding peaks and forests.

Gstaad House nestles into the valley and responds to its unique contours | images © Foster + Partners

alpine galleries by foster + partners

At the ground level of Foster + Partners’ Gastaad House, a flexible exhibition hall opens directly to the outdoors during the summer months. This way, interiors maintain a breezy and fluid connection to the alpine environment beyond. The architects plan this gallery space to host seasonal events and public programs, transforming from exhibition space to gathering place as needed.

Above, climate-controlled galleries are designed to display delicate artworks and rare objects under precisely-managed conditions. These rooms accommodate both rotating exhibitions and private viewings, lending a flexible backdrop for a range of collections.

the architecture responds to the undulating mountains and winding roads

members’ club and storage spaces

The Gstaad House’s top floor houses a members-only club, which Foster + Partners curates with understated interiors and a wraparound roof deck. From here, guests can enjoy panoramic views across the valley while dining or relaxing within a series of intimate lounges and private dining rooms.

Below ground, 3,000 square meters of customizable storage space provides specialized conditions for art, fashion, and vintage cars. Lighting, racking, and climate systems are tailored to conservation needs, supported by on-site experts who assist collectors in creating bespoke environments.

the penthouse opens onto a wraparound roof deck with views across the valley

a facade of local larch slats diffuses natural light into the interiors

aerial view of Gstaad House, the first purpose-built display and storage facility in the town

project info:

name: Gstaad House

architect: Foster + Partners | @fosterandpartners 

location: Gstaad, Switzerland

The post foster + partners to build gallery for art and automobiles in gstaad, switzerland appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The Ark Nova, a mobile concert hall conceived by artist Anish Kapoor, the late architect Arata Isozaki (1931-2022), and collaborators Masahide Kajimoto and Michael Haefliger, rises as both artwork and architectural experiment on the Lidowiese in Switzerland for Lucerne Festival, running until September 14th, 2025. Originally created in 2013 in the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquake (find designboom’s previous coverage here), this inflatable structure was designed as a symbol of hope, its temporary, ethereal form carrying music, light, and human resilience. For its 2025 Swiss debut, the Ark Nova offers eleven days of concerts ranging from classical and folk to jazz and pop, while functioning simultaneously as a sculptural installation, a venue, and an immersive exhibition space.

all images by Seraina Wirz, unless stated otherwise

From Lucerne Festival concert hall to Living Exhibition

The Ark Nova’s architecture is defined by its mobility and flexibility. Visitors can experience its interior either during the Lucerne Festival performances or as part of guided tours, which reveal the hall’s design logic, engineering, and conceptual foundations. Apart from performances, each ticket grants access to a special exhibition at the Hans Erni Museum, where models, documents, and films trace the hall’s development from concept to reality.

The presence of the structure on Lucerne’s lakeside transforms the public space into an ephemeral cultural hub, allowing interaction, open exploration, and even participatory musical experiences, from sing-alongs to workshops. Three Open4All sessions, as well as family-focused days, invite visitors to traverse the hall freely, highlighting the Ark Nova’s adaptability and social mission alongside its aesthetic qualities.

the Ark Nova is a mobile concert hall

conceived by artist Anish Kapoor and the late architect Arata Isozaki

the structure rises as both artwork and architectural experiment

originally created in 2013 in the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquake

the installation hosts the Lucerne Festival, running until September 14th, 2025

its temporary, ethereal form carries music, light, and human resilience

for its 2025 Swiss debut, the Ark Nova offers eleven days of concerts

functioning as a sculptural installation, a venue, and an immersive exhibition space

the Ark Nova’s architecture is defined by its mobility and flexibility

visitors can experience its interior either during performances or as part of guided tours

each ticket grants access to a special exhibition at the Hans Erni Museum

the presence of the structure on Lucerne’s lakeside transforms the public space

at night, the structure glows with magenta hues

conceived in collaboration with Masahide Kajimoto and Michael Haefliger

Ark Nova can be found on the Lidowiese in Lucerne, Switzerland

project info:

name: Ark Nova

architect / collaborators: Anish Kapoor | @dirty_corner, Arata Isozaki, Masahide Kajimoto, Michael Haefliger

festival: Lucerne Festival | @lucernefestival

location: Lidowiese, Lucerne, Switzerland

dates: September 4th – 14th, 2025

photographer: Seraina Wirz | @serainawirz_afaf

The post anish kapoor and arata isozaki’s inflatable ‘ark nova’ concert hall rises in switzerland appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Davide Macullo Architects designs the Swisshouse XL, a single-family home in Coldrerio, Switzerland, that establishes a dialogue with its surroundings. The design reinterprets local architectural traditions, integrating the structure into a transitional space between a historical village core and newer urban developments.

The home is defined by its octagonal plan, a form that acts as a conceptual link between the old and new urban contexts. This geometry is influenced by 19th-century regional architecture. The building’s shape, including a diagonally cut roof and strategically placed external staircase, reflects the proportions and typologies of nearby historical structures, creating visual continuity between the new and existing architecture.

all images by Leonit Ibrahimi, courtesy of Davide Macullo Architects

Sculptural residence by Davide Macullo is shaped by its context

The design of Swisshouse XL emphasizes a balance between solid mass and voids. The volume is sculpted to create a sense of lightness while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding landscape. The cuts in the octagonal form are designed to optimize views and orientation, carving out spaces that host living areas. This approach results in a sculptural volume that is shaped by its context rather than by purely formal intentions.

The integration of a single-story garage with the village’s older buildings reinforces the relationship between the new construction and its historical fabric. The overall composition by Davide Macullo Architects Studio is a thoughtful architectural response to its specific site, embodying a balance between traditional elements and contemporary design.

the residence is located on the edge of a historical village core

the octagonal plan connects old and new architecture

the work is inspired by 19th-century regional works

a residence that integrates into its urban and landscape context

situated at the intersection of two urban conditions

the central octagonal shape acts as an urban pivot

the diagonally cut roof connects to older buildings

a cut in the volume lightens the northern elevation

a sculptural volume shaped by its context

geometric cuts define the volume

the garage aligns with historical village structures

a subtraction of matter from a primary mass

carved to create space and optimal orientation

a balance between solid and void

project info:

name: SWISSHOUSE XL COLDRERIO
architect: Davide Macullo | @davidemaculloarchitects

location: Coldrerio, Switzerland

photographer: Leonit Ibrahimi | @leonitibrahimi

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Swiss studio Craft & Concept completes Huit Sushi, a contemporary Japanese restaurant in Montreux, Switzerland, where spatial clarity and material restraint subtly redefine the dining experience. The project reflects a nuanced interpretation of Japanese design, placing focus on proportion, rhythm, and atmosphere instead of ornament. The interior is organized around a cross-shaped plan, with a unique lighting design at its core. Two intersecting walls — one in polished metal, the other a softly glowing acrylic with integrated LEDs — segment the space into four distinct yet fluid zones: an open kitchen, cocktail bar, dining area, and a waiting lounge.

Swiss studio Craft & Concept completes Huit Sushi | all images courtesy of Craft & Concept

Precise Spatial Logic inspired by japanese design

For Craft & Concept, the task was to create a flexible, anonymous space that doesn’t overemphasize the operational processes. With Huit Sushi, the Swiss studio applies a restrained yet precise interpretation of Japanese spatial logic, where atmosphere comes from rhythm and material presence rather than bold decoration. Their approach prioritizes a simple organizational composition and a precise combination of textures and materials.

the project reflects a nuanced interpretation of Japanese design

custom-made led wall becomes ambient centerpiece

At the very center of Huit Sushi’s design is a custom-developed LED wall, which was fabricated entirely in-house by Craft & Concept. This glowing partition acts as both a luminous backdrop and the primary atmospheric feature. The lighting system provides a consistent, even glow, avoiding common issues like visible LED strips or uneven diffusion. With its fully adjustable RGB spectrum, the color can shift seamlessly, allowing the ambiance to change from one mood to another without drifting into unwanted hues. This central partition also integrates a flush, illuminated restroom door, designed to either blend into the wall or stand out through its tone and brightness.

the unique LED lighting wall delivers a consistent, ambient glow

The studio’s precise approach extends to every detail, from the acoustic ceiling panels that ensure auditory comfort to the bespoke furniture. The bar counters, tables, and seating are all custom-designed and crafted from a unique, inhomogeneous acrylic blend. This introduces subtle variations in appearance and touch, creating a loose surface effect that adds depth to the minimalist aesthetic. The material palette is intentionally restrained, centered on light, monochrome, earthy textures with black accents from the furniture. In contrast, a matte black monolithic restroom reinforces the project’s emphasis on clarity and controlled emotion. Through this synthesis of design and custom fabrication, Huit Sushi becomes an immersive environment shaped by light, material, and spatial rhythm.

with a fully adjustable RGB spectrum, the color can shift seamlessly

the custom-developed LED wall was fabricated entirely in-house by Craft & Concept

the cross-shaped layout creates four distinct, yet fluid zones

the palette is restrained to light, monochrome textures with black furniture accents

atmosphere is shaped by proportion, rhythm, and material presence

the acrylic wall intersects with a polished metal surface to define the space

Craft & Concept prioritizes a simple organizational composition and a precise combination of textures and materials

project info:

name: Huit Sushi

studio: Craft & Concept | @craft_and_concept

location: Montreux, Switzerland

The post huit sushi restaurant in montreux glows with a custom-made led wall by craft & concept appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.