House by Lake Geneva

House by Lake Geneva

© Lionel Henriod

Purpose-built for railway construction workers, this modest home on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland was constructed in 1911 from large stone blocks quarried during road construction. Ralph Germann architectes transformed it into a private family residence by combining three previously separate apartments into one cohesive living space.

The ground floor features a living room and kitchen connected to the garden. Craftsmen built a long concrete kitchen island raised 8 cm off the ground. Storage spaces are integrated into a large cube. Narrow vertical windows offer views of the surrounding landscape. The main bedroom is located in the center on the second level, while children occupy the upper floor. The parent's block is a large multi-functional space. A wood-burning stove separates the bed and open bathroom. The bathtub is barely separated by a small wooden partition and sits in the center of the room near the window overlooking the lake and the Alps.

The house is spacious, with minimal furniture and built-in wardrobes hidden within architectural volumes. Discreet sliding doors disappear into the walls, allowing the space to flow freely from one room to another.

Photographs: Lionel Henriod