Dwelling house in Münchenstein
- Burkhard Franke
A black skin of commercially available, slate-finish bitumen sheeting is stretched across this two-storey single-family house in a suburb to the south of Basel. Thanks to the sandpaper-like surface with glittering welded seams made of bitumen compound this house stands out clearly in its heterogeneous surroundings. Only the overlapping joints of the carefully laid, one-metre-wide lengths of membrane articulate the closed parts of the façade. Rounded corners and transitions allow the external surfaces to be wrapped completely. No differentiation is made between roof and wall. This gives the building, which is only 5.30 metres wide, a certain visual massiveness that forms a surprising contrast to the construction: the house is a timber frame building clad with OSB panels. This lightness, on the other hand, goes well with the technical feel conveyed by the drop-arm awnings, which are also black. They conceal horizontal slits below the roof edge – effective back ventilation of the facade is particularly important on account of the vapour-tight skin. The open interior is articulated by a central core that accommodates the kitchen on the ground floor and the bathroom on the upper level. A straight single-flight stairs leads upwards along the north side, roof lights in the bathroom and dressing room ensure privacy. Sensual materials determine the restrained appearance: smooth concrete floors, silvery-grey painted wood, and brushed aluminium produce a subtle palette of light grey shades, with only the wide, anthracite-coloured timber window frames forming a clear contrast.
