In the quiet residential neighborhood of Bottmingen, KOHLERSTRAUMANN developed a compact ensemble of two detached houses and one semi-detached house on a 945 m² plot. Rather than a single monolithic volume, the project is articulated as three house forms that respond to the scale of the surrounding neighborhood while creating clear spatial order and generous private outdoor space. A restrained architectural language and durable material concept define the project’s residential character.

Domestic Scale
The composition responds to a context of detached and multi-family homes, while its position along a more exposed stretch of Sichelweg gives the project a distinct presence at the bend in the road. Rather than a larger block, the ensemble is broken into three clearly defined volumes, echoing the rhythm and scale of the surrounding fabric while remaining legible as a calm residential marker.

Toward the street, the volumes present a compact and measured frontage. Toward the rear, the arrangement opens the houses to more sheltered outdoor areas, where private gardens extend the living spaces and strengthen the relationship between interior and landscape. Landscape gaps between the volumes further soften the ensemble, introducing distance, privacy, and a greater sense of spatial breathing room between the homes.

Quiet Expression
Architecturally, the project is deliberately reduced to a few clear elements, combining raw durability with material clarity. Each house is topped with a simple gabled roof and wrapped in a vertically ribbed white façade, creating a restrained yet refined expression that feels both contemporary and timeless. Timber construction is paired with metal cladding, while the cantilevered concrete canopy marks the parking and entrance areas with a stronger, more grounded gesture.

The front elevations are largely closed, with carefully placed openings that preserve privacy among the surrounding houses while still admitting daylight. On the upper level, a screened opening brings light into the attic floor behind a perforated metal layer, allowing the façade to remain visually consistent while softening transparency. The detail adds subtle depth to the buildings’ minimal language and reinforces their clear architectural identity, defined by verticality, precision, and material restraint.

Clear Spatial Order
Inside, the houses are organized according to a clear hierarchy. Living spaces are placed to the rear, connecting the interiors to the garden and extending everyday life outward, while the more service-oriented spaces — staircases, bathrooms, and ancillary rooms — are set toward the street-facing side.

This configuration gives each home a calm internal order and supports contemporary family life through a clear relationship between enclosed and open spaces. The front remains more protective and less exposed, while the rear opens more fully to light, landscape and private outdoor living, creating homes that feel both sheltered and connected.

Energy and Comfort
The project reflects a strong commitment to sustainability. With the exception of the basement, the building is realized in timber, a material chosen for its low embodied carbon, its natural ability to regulate humidity and its contribution to indoor climate comfort. Triple insulating glazing, geothermal heating and rooftop photovoltaic systems further improve the project’s energy performance and reduce its environmental footprint.

The project was developed for Complimmo Development and marks the first in KOHLERSTRAUMANN’s residential series along Sichelweg. It was followed by a single-family house, a multi-family residential building, and a semi-detached residence, forming part of a broader development that steadily refined the residential character of this part of Bottmingen.