House in the Canton of Aargau

This unusual house with a U-shaped layout and a clear facade articulation has been carefully integrated into an undulating, landscaped site on the edge of a wood. The reinforced concrete structure is faced on the outside with a rear-ventilated skin, consisting of large precast concrete elements that extend up above the roof slab. In their coloration and surface texture, they underline the solid volumetric expression of the building. Blast-furnace ash and crushed Nero Ebano stone were mixed with the concrete to achieve a black pigmentation. The irregular surface texture was formed by inserting latex moulds in the shuttering to create the appearance of a rock-like structure. After setting, the concrete was subjected to a special acid-cleaning treatment. The surface thus achieved can appear rough-textured or soft and velvety, depending on the incidence of light. Contrasted with this are the large window openings incised in the volume. The glazing to these is set flush with the facade. These elements also extend up to the edge of the roof, where they continue in the form of horizontal top-light strips. All other facade materials are more subdued in appearance. The internal spaces differ according to their orientation and view. Smooth, ivory-coloured surfaces create a warm, restrained tone that forms a further contrast to the rough exterior – a feature that is especially evident around the windows.