Type: Parallel study
Location: Canobbio, Ticino, Switzerland
Brief: Modular apartments, 774 m2 GA
Year: 2017
Client: Veragouth SA in collaboration with Archfin Sagl investment concept
Coordinator: i2a – istituto internazionale di architettura
Phase / Status: Concept Design
Architect: Mia Hägg
Team Habiter Autrement:
Kim Bjarke, Project Architect, Enrico Demattè, Architect, model maker
Consultants:
Structure: Schnetzer & Puskas Ingenieure AG, Heinrich Schnetzer, Andrea Moro
Climate Engineer: Transsolar, Tomasso Bitossi, Julia Hajnal, Emelie Pertusa
Landscape Architect: Giorgio Aeberli, Gordola
Graphic Design: Hans Stofregen
Photography: Maris Mezulis
3D renderings: Artefactory Lab, Paris



1+1
Canobbio, located on a hill north of Lugano in Switzerland, is characterized by steep slopes and surrounding woods. It has been inhabited for at least 1,300 years in 712 AD, when it was first mentioned, it was known as Canobli.

During the last 40 years, the population has almost doubled. Today it has around 2,140 inhabitants, with an average of 2.2 persons per household, compared to a population of 1,200 in the 1970s.

This is the location for 1+1, a residential building for which the client requested a pilot project to build modular apartments in wood. The brief was for small apartments that could be easily converted into larger ones if required.

Faced with a site on a southeast-facing slope of more than 30 degrees, we decided, after careful analysis, to develop a compact project, liberating half of the site for a residential, terraced garden and opening up the important southwest facade to face the new garden and overlook the hilltops around lake Lugano.

Two neighbouring projects, currently under construction, use a more conventional, linear typology that stretches across the full width of the site. These buildings miss out on the possibility of a southwest facade facing towards the lake, and have only a frontal street view. This configuration also obstructs the view of the neighbours behind.

Our elongated cube is supported by a circulation core and columns in a 3.4 x 3.4 metre grid, which is shifted back from the southeast and southwest facades in order to keep the main structure weather-protected and also to provide shading. The remaining floor slab can easily be configured to make one, two or three units per floor.

Regardless of the configuration, all units have dual orientation and generous loggias. At the top of the building is a full-floor penthouse with private access and generous southeast and southwest loggias.

The access to the community garden is located at the first level, on top of the underground parking with the same footprint as the main building. This is also the level where the amenities for the residents are concentrated. An arcade, open towards the southeast, contains space for a laundry, a gym and leisure activity. The protected gallery space gives access to the garden, but it is also a place where you can sit and read a book while waiting for your laundry to be done, or where children can play.

1+1 Solid and void. Built and nature in balance.
DETAILS
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Type: Parallel study
Location: Canobbio, Ticino, Switzerland
Brief: Modular apartments, 774 m2 GA
Year: 2017
Client: Veragouth SA in collaboration with Archfin Sagl investment concept
Coordinator: i2a – istituto internazionale di architettura
Phase / Status: Concept Design
Architect: Mia Hägg
Team Habiter Autrement:
Kim Bjarke, Project Architect, Enrico Demattè, Architect, model maker
Consultants:
Structure: Schnetzer & Puskas Ingenieure AG, Heinrich Schnetzer, Andrea Moro
Climate Engineer: Transsolar, Tomasso Bitossi, Julia Hajnal, Emelie Pertusa
Landscape Architect: Giorgio Aeberli, Gordola
Graphic Design: Hans Stofregen
Photography: Maris Mezulis
3D renderings: Artefactory Lab, Paris




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