The plot, formerly developed with a single villa in a dignified neigh¬bourhood of detached houses in Zollikon, had already been developed with a new building. We were looking for a volumetric solution for a densification with two further detached houses that would simultaneously fulfil the strict height restriction and the need for privacy. With their angular shape, the two wide buildings each enclose a courtyard-like, lushly landscaped outdoor space. In combination with terracing that follows the terrain, the highly sculp¬tural volumes blend harmoniously and subtly into the small-scale surroundings.
The external appearance is reflected in the internal topography. Life in the houses is spread over a number of levels, which are connected by short flights of stairs. The visual connections between the levels, the lack of any actual storeys and the views that repeatedly open up to the outside create a sense of spaciousness. The careful composition of the untreated materials of all surfaces inside and out creates an atmosphere that is both simple and elegant, in keeping with the location and the residents.
