The House in Oberwil

Location: Oberwil, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland

Year: 2022

Architecture: Caesar Zumthor

Photography: Karina Castro

Balanced integration

The Haus in Oberwil is a two-family residence that responds to the natural slope of its site, creating a dual orientation, stacking almost cake-like into the sky. Toward the street, generous entrances form a semi-public gesture, with the adjacent utility layer set into the terrain. This spatial sequence grounds the building while maintaining openness across levels.

Sculptural transitions

A central staircase links the interior through a void, leading to a fully open, all-directional living floor enclosed by a continuous horizontal facade band. The composition emphasizes contrast—solid and light, grounded and elevated—defining the central living space and culminating in the sculptural massing of the setback volumes above.

Layered materiality

The structure is primarily made of concrete, which reinforces its clear geometry and reserved atmosphere. Wooden cladding adds important warmth to the sleeping areas, while the cool material palette contributes to an almost austere ambience.

Symmetry and nuance

Both housing units follow mirrored floorplans, maintaining a balance of individuality and cohesion. The architectural expression is shaped by careful differentiation in scale, mass, and materiality, reinforcing the core design theme of contrast throughout the entire volume. This physical language supports the harsh architectural clarity.

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