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This concrete cube, sitting atop an angled site by Lake Maggiore, is the latest residential offering by Swiss design duo Markus Wespi and Jerome de Meuron.
Photography: Hannes Henz
House in S. Abbondio by Wespi De Meuron
House in S. Abbondio by Wespi De Meuron
Finished in autumn 2012, the house is located in the small village of S'Abbondio, a stone's throw from the Italian border
Created for a design-conscious family as their holiday home - and possibly their primary residence in future - the structure is a contemporary environment of warmth, shelter and comfort in the village's suburban setting
'The house is located in a relatively new area with different houses around (some built and some in planning) and the concept was to create a simple cube with a certain abstraction to avoid competition,' says de Meuron
The structure encompasses three floors with the entrance at the lower part of the site
The main living spaces are on the third level, with the bedrooms on the floors below
The open plan kitchen and living room
Oak wooden accents (for cupboards, furniture and windows) soften the grey concrete walls
The interior is welcoming, contemporary, bright and open
The lines of the concrete bring in pattern to the living room and kitchen
The sheltered terrace
The stairwell
Square windows frame the views in one of the bedrooms
The part-planted roof doubles as a sundeck
Sweeping views across the lake
The naked concrete structure's irregularly placed windows of varied sizes and minimal frames create a playful façade