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What was the client’s request and how did you interpret it?
The client launched an architectural competition for the design
of a huge villa on Lake Zürich. We met him twice to discuss his
desires, as well as the volume and shape of the resulting project.
Between the client’s request and our architectural interpretation
there was no difference at all. We worked on a simple and clear
concept – a radical and daring aesthetic proposal that contained
all the comforts and functions a home requires. Our project was
selected among five others.
What is the role of the lake in the project?
Casa Mi is located in the outskirts of Zürich and enjoys a privi-
leged panorama, with the delightful Swiss Alps to the East, the
marvellous Lake Zürich to the South, and stunning views of the
city to the West. The lake has without doubt a leading role in this
project: you can see it from everywhere, from communal spaces
to private rooms. Water conveys a quiet and peaceful sensation,
an ideal state of mind, and the landscape is framed and idealised
through the windows.
The house is made of multiple stacked blocks: how did you
merge them together?
The whole volume is divided in two parts and each floor has a speci-
fic function. The first part, overhanging from the hillside, is located
in the centre of the plot perpendicularly to the lake. Here, commu-
nal spaces are placed in a sequence: the entrance, the living room,
the library, the kitchen and the dining room are slightly raised on
different levels, so that every room enjoys a lake view, whatever
its position. Spacious staircases and open spaces make it look
continuous. The second part of the volume is integrated below
ground level, to reduce overall scale. It has a running window, which
from the outside looks as a camouflaged fissure. It allows natural
light to enter and connects all the rooms with the lake.
Which materials and colours did you choose and why?
Our idea was very clear since the beginning: Casa Mi should be a
concrete object. Of course we are talking about a special concrete,
a high quality one with a very specific tone. And we had to use only
noble materials, no imitation would be accepted.
We wanted the same colour and texture inside and outside, like if
the house were a sculpture carved out of a single block of stone.
Of course this concept was impossible to apply literally, but this
strong idea guided all the decisions about colours, textures and
materials throughout the construction process.
Inside we wanted to create a neutral and balanced atmosphere
where ceilings, walls and floors all acquired the same importance.
Following our concept, the colour chosen was the same greyish
beige used outside: walls and ceilings are made of plaster, the
floor in is travertine. A very soft coloured wood was used for the
wardrobes and the floors in the bedrooms. For the central and most
representative space in the house, the one assigned to the commu-
nal life of the family and for hosting, we designed three large black
pieces of furniture: a black leather sofa, a black marquina marble
dining table and a black glass kitchen bar. Three black pieces in
three different materials for three different functions. Finally, all the
bathrooms are dark grey and black, contrasting with the colours
of the public spaces and rooms.
What was Poliform’s contribution to the overall project?
Collaborating with a brand like Poliform in a project like this was
great. Poliform Contract supplied the furniture and proposed
solutions and ideas to achieve both the desired aesthetic and
the functional requirements of a domestic environment. Their
professionalism and experience were crucial to the success of
the project.
