Flexhouse, Zurich

With its wide walls of glass and a ribbon-like white façade that winds its way around the building, this home on the banks of Lake Zurich is so light and mobile in appearance that it resembles a futuristic vessel. Called Flexhouse and designed by Swiss architecture and design studio Evolution Design, the four-storey home has an open plan living, dining and kitchen space on the ground floor, two bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor, a studio with two large terraces on the second floor and a basement level with underground garage and utility space. But it is the striking exterior architecture and breathtaking 180 degree views across Lake Zurich to the mountains beyond that really capture the eye.

The project began when Evolution Design executive director Stefan Camenzind spotted a vacant block of land. The plot was well positioned on the banks of Lake Zurich but was a challenging site, triangular in shape, narrow and squeezed between a railway line and a road. The land is at the edge of the village where housing meets the countryside.

So, Flexhouse is anything but a square box. The design features a floor plan that goes from wide to narrow to follow the railway lines and shape of the plot. The striking façade wraps around the building, drawing the eye continuously upward. The house never feels stiff or still, there are always elements drawing your eye throughout the space and to the views beyond. On the ground floor, the spacious living room transitions into a dining area and loft-style kitchen. Rather than close off individual floors, the design incorporates a double height open space that allows the eyes to travel, delivering a glimpse of the bedrooms above or, from the first floor, to the living room below. With glass walls on three sides, this home blurs the boundaries between outside and in. The top floor studio with its panoramic views and two roof terraces is the culmination of this seamless flow between inside and out.