Architect's and Artist's Apartment House

This contemporary block of four apartments sits on a north-facing hillside in the western suburbs of Zurich. It is spread over four levels, with two duplex apartments and two smaller roof top units - all of which wrap around each other. At first glance (and in most photographs) it looks as if it is clad in concrete, when in fact the skin is made of 3mm-thick galvanised sheet steel. The armature of the house, that is to say the foundation slab and the main internal stair cores, are indeed formed from in-situ concrete. However the remainder of the walls, both internal and external, are formed using timber studs. Internally, the materials and surfaces are undecorated, giving the interior a neutral appearance. In total contrast are the bathrooms and kitchens which are lined with some very vivid colours, coated onto the backs of glass sheets.