Transformation of a Single-Family Home

Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland

Photo © Thomas Telley

Single Houses

Architects: Atelier Pulver Architectes SA

Location: Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland
Year: 2023

This conversion of a villa dating from the 1990s combines two distinct but complementary projects. On the first floor, to remedy the lack of space in the bathrooms, a prefabricated wooden box is erected as a discreet extension to the master bathroom, freeing up extra space in the existing building to redesign the children's bathroom. Set against the north facade, this addition blends harmoniously with the existing architecture, while offering a subtle contrast through its materiality. The interior reveals a series of made-to-measure units that, beyond their storage function, establish a visual cohesion between the spaces and cleverly conceal access to more private areas.

The renovation also extends to the ground floor, where the kitchen, once partitioned off, has been redesigned to better suit the lifestyle of the occupants, who are keen to entertain and share. In search of a more open and welcoming atmosphere, the kitchen and dining room have been redesigned to meet these aspirations. A concealed door, discreetly integrated into the kitchen wall, reveals a pantry that doubles as a more intimate breakfast nook. The design emphasises contemporary simplicity, creating a warm atmosphere while preserving the modernity of the space. The pragmatic design of the whole contributes to an architectural experience in which every detail has been thought through to ensure efficient, unobtrusive flow.