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| CLIENT | PRIVATE |
| PLANNING | 2018-2019 |
| CONSTRUCTION | 2019-2020 |
| ARCHITECTS | GRABER & STEIGER ARCHITEKTEN, PROJECT ARCHITECT: WERNER WEIBEL |
| CONSULTANTS | GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Schärholzbau AG |
| PHOTOGRAPHER | D.M. WEHRLI, ARCHIVE GRABER & STEIGER |
Densification, conversion, building on existing structures or the appropriation of derelict land in the sense of sustainable construction are currently shaping the architectural discourse. The client went one step further in order to reconcile the desire for a home of one's own with sustainability considerations.
Instead of buying a plot of land in the countryside or a trendy loft flat with industrial chic, the client decided to settle in a commercial zone that was in full operation. In doing so, they recognised that there is enormous potential in a settlement that is generally considered unattractive, if the much-vaunted combination of living and working is to be put into practice.
Due to the small size of the plot, a diversely choreographed sequence of vertical spaces was created, leading from the street to the sky and linking such different places as the modestly sized entrance area and the two-storey living area under the roof canopy. Despite the external compactness of the building, the residents experience a spatial opulence bathed in a wide variety of lighting moods.
The new player in the heterogeneous neighbourhood stands calm and serene and exudes the charming directness of a commercial building. A "bark" made of saw-rough boards is gradually opened up depending on the surroundings and the desired views and insights.

We are delighted to announce that our team has won the competition for a residential and mixed-use building in the centre of the municipality of Horw, south of Lucerne.
As the competition motto JANUS suggests, our approach is characterized by a multifaceted compound that responds subtly to the given heterogeneous context. The urban boullevard in the north is addressed just as the park-like open space towards the south.
The staggered and porous structure leaves maximum green space and accommodates a variety of apartment types, collective rooms and commercial premises that contribute to a vital a tivation of the neighbourhood.
The simple and robust structural and spatial concept enables a long life span while leaving flexibility for future adaptation. The deep, verana-like facade layers act as a climate-sensitive treshold space and expands the interiors multifunctionally.