Rethinking Space in Bramois
In the charming locale of Bramois on the outskirts of Sion, R2A architectes has designed two stacked apartments that reimagine traditional living spaces with a cantilever and sunken design. One apartment is sunken into the garden while the other elegantly cantilevers above it. This innovative two-family house replaces the standard cubic duplex often found in Switzerland’s low-density areas, favoring an open structural system anchored by a single concrete core.
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This innovative use of space echoes the approach seen in Casa Eva’s architectural concrete symphony, where dynamic spaces showcase the potential of concrete and design.
Engaging with the Landscape Using a Novel Approach
The placement of the house reveals its unique relationship with its surroundings. Situated at a northwest corner, the building’s design incorporates a carport that screens the home, maintaining its tranquility. The garden plays a central role, forming the primary facade and enveloping the structure, creating a sense of immersion rather than mere adjacency to nature.
Independent Living Spaces
The layout presents a harmonious yet distinct separation between the two households. Each unit features its own entrance, offering privacy and reducing shared spaces to external circulation areas. This novel approach minimizes heating requirements while maintaining a functional layout. The unheated passageways remain outside the thermal envelope, prioritizing efficiency.
A Contrast in Perspectives
The ground-floor apartment sits slightly below ground level, aligning eye level with the surrounding vegetation, allowing the meadow’s colors to fill the view. This offers a serene, enclosing privacy fueled by nature. The apartment upstairs offers a contrasting experience, extending out onto a covered terrace that invites broader vistas, with a suspended presence enabled by the architectural design.
Structural Integrity and Design
Central to the design is the robust concrete core, which bears the building’s weight and supports the mechanical systems. Steel columns and concrete slabs form the skeletal framework. Fascinatingly, the facades function as protective layers rather than structural elements, framing views and filtering light while maintaining harmony with the surroundings.
Material Simplicity and Authenticity
The architectural approach champions raw materials. Inside, exposed concrete juxtaposes gently against warm oak, eschewing unnecessary finishes. Outside, the use of galvanized steel, anodized aluminum, and fiber-cement panels creates a dynamic facade. These materials catch and play with light, allowing natural weathering for evolving character.
Sustainability at Its Core
Sustainable thinking is woven into the building’s design, not reliant on excessive technology. The structure features a green roof and solar-equipped carport, while the permeable landscape and rainwater system contribute to its environmental efficacy. By reducing superfluous finishes, the building conserves energy and emphasizes minimalism through material efficiency.
A Harmonized Conclusion
R2A architectes’ Bramois project deftly explores where a home meets the ground, presenting two divergent answers within one unified structure. This innovative design speaks to innovative living, engaging with the environment and community thoughtfully and sustainably.
Source: urdesignmag.com
Frequently asked questions
What design elements do the stacked apartments feature?
The dual-level cantilever and sunken design is a key feature, with one apartment sunken into the garden and the other cantilevering above. This approach replaces the standard cubic duplex with an open structural system anchored by a single concrete core.
How does the design interact with the surrounding landscape?
The garden forms the primary facade, enveloping the structure and maintaining tranquility by connecting the home with its natural surroundings. This placement creates a sense of immersion rather than mere adjacency to nature.
What are the materials used in the home’s construction?
The architectural approach uses raw materials like exposed concrete juxtaposed against warm oak inside, and galvanized steel, anodized aluminum, and fiber-cement panels outside. These materials evolve with natural weathering and emphasize minimalism through material efficiency.