BE Architektur’s residential design elevates the typology of the humble agricultural barn

From afar, this space looks like a traditional agricultural barn that is used to store crops and mechanical instruments. When you come closer, you realise that it is a home. Swiss architecture firm BE Architektur has conceptualised the architecture and the interior design of a one-of-a-kind residence in Reppischtal, a small agricultural town located near Zurich. Aptly known as ‘Residential Barn,’ this 215-square-metre bungalow, is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional schüür, or agricultural barn, of Switzerland. BE Architektur was able to do this by cladding the home with spruce wood and topping it with a tiled pitched roof, similar to the neighbouring barns. Additionally, the interior design of this residence is an ode to its agricultural surroundings. Just like an age-old barn, this home’s rooms feature an unfinished look with exposed concrete on the floors and textured light-grey plaster on the walls. The residence also consists of expansive windows that offer panoramic vistas of the verdant natural landscape.

Established in 2017 by Swiss architect Boris Egli, BE Architektur is an architecture studio based in Switzerland. The firm has a large portfolio of residential architecture and is known for using natural materials that respect their surrounding environments. Residential Barn is a fine example of the studio’s design philosophy and their contemporary approach to vernacular architecture. Boris Egli, founder of BE Architektur elaborates on the strategy saying, “Around 15 buildings form a hamlet zone in a rural, mainly agricultural setting. This new home in the hamlet feels obliged to honour the area’s historical context. Typical barn characteristics were taken up and reinterpreted in a modern way. From a distance, the residence discreetly blends into its rustic surroundings. The exterior facade is clad in glazed spruce wood – the same type of timber used on traditional Swiss barns. A pitched roof was designed in the same vein, with tile roofing typical to the local architecture. Openable windows are concealed behind wooden shutters, while the generous fixed glazing is fronted by wooden sliding doors that provide sun protection, darkening, and privacy. A raw steel beam serves as a gutter, jutting out beyond the base of the roof. Downpipes were omitted; the rainwater drains off the side like a waterfall”.

This distinctive residence responds to the topography of the site that it is built on. As it has been constructed on a slope, the ground floor’s rooms are staggered on different levels. The residents have to step up or down in response to the topography of the ground below. “Building on a slope usually requires excavation behind the building and backfilling in front; this approach was deliberately rejected. Instead, the ground floor is arranged in a series of levels at different heights to follow the existing slope. A barn is typically used for storage and as a workroom for agricultural production. Although this new building is not a depository, its rooms—bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, etc.—are ‘stored’ within it as closed volumes and are figuratively stacked on top of one another. This ‘stacking’ creates a sculptural interior, a positive spatial volume within the building. A negative volume forms around these stacks, comprising a landscape of open living spaces that are interconnected vertically and horizontally. A generous interior unfolds with a sense of endless expanse,” explains Egli.

The Residential Barn consists of three storeys—a ground floor, the first floor and an attic. The home showcases a unique half-open, half-closed layout. The ground floor has a collection of connected living spaces wrapped around certain closed rooms, which include a bathroom, a mechanical room and storage rooms. After walking through the main entrance, guests enter an open kitchen and dining area to the right. This well-lit, welcoming space features a double-height ceiling, an arresting chandelier, minimal cabinetry crafted from wood, and a large kitchen island that can be used as a dining table. The kitchen area also has glass doors that let in plenty of natural light.

The home’s dining area opens into the living room through a set of steps. The living room is a cosy space with comfortable furniture in neutral tones and floor-to-ceiling windows with wooden shutters. A staircase leads to the first floor which consists of interconnected rooms, including two bedrooms, bathrooms, and an office. Finally, the attic is a multifunctional area that can be used as a study space or a storage room. It has a low, sloping ceiling and angular walls. The inviting attic houses bookshelves, plants and practical seating that can be used as a reading nook. While the home’s interior spaces have a rustic design aesthetic they are well-equipped with modern furnishings and state-of-the-art lighting fixtures and appliances. The furniture pieces are well-detailed minimalist pieces that also showcase the material palette of the surrounding environment.

BE Architektur celebrates the local area’s agricultural legacy through the design of Residential Barn, and by using the materials that are commonly used in traditional Swiss barns. “The new building reinterprets the simple, unadorned nature of a traditional barn through its choice of materials. Exposed concrete slabs for the floor and a special plaster covering the walls ensure a raw, unfinished feel. Two different materials with a similar effect—concrete and plaster—are used throughout the interior to achieve an expressive effect,” remarks Boris. In addition, this residence has been built keeping the environment and weather conditions in mind. The meandering form of the rooms induces airflow, thereby greatly elevating natural ventilation and thermal comfort.

The architecture studio also designed a freestanding garage for two cars, which is also a timber structure, like the primary residence. Furthermore, the garage’s roof has solar panels that provide a sustainable energy solution. “The freestanding two-car garage in exposed concrete was created using the same timber formwork as that used for the house facade. A photovoltaic system was installed on the gently sloping concrete gable roof, the solar panels covering the surface like a carpet. As you can see, this new home enters into a thematic dialogue with the surrounding agricultural buildings for a unique interpretation of the vernacular barn typology,” concludes Boris Egli.

Project Details

Client: Private owners
Living space: 215 m²
Completion: 01.08.2022
Architect: BE ARCHITEKTUR GMBH, Boris Egli dipl. Architekt FH REG A SIA
Lighting Design: Lichtblick AG, Buchs
Civil Engineer: suisseplan Ingenieure AG, Zurich
Building Physics: Wichser Akustik & Bauphysik AG, Zurich
HVAC Planning: Elsner Klima AG Adliswil