House of Grape Varieties

Situation

The determination of a new use for this 3,810 m3 SIA building had to be submitted to the authorities for approval, subject to a few restrictions, mainly relating to its exterior appearance.

This former hotel, which had already been converted and enlarged, is well-balanced and has an interesting character, mainly due to the design of its facades and its overall massing.

Situated outside the village center, on the edge of the Route de l’Etraz, the building enjoys a pleasant environment and unobstructed views.

The location of the commune, halfway between Lausanne and Geneva and on the same bank as Cointrin airport, makes it a highly attractive location for the development of apartments for sale as condominiums.

Project

Redistribution within the existing volume. The 1,037 m2 of gross floor area are now divided into eight apartments of varying sizes and typologies. They all benefit from a pleasant balcony and are divided between existing volumes and a completely new section.

The overall effect is to ensure that the added surfaces fit in with the existing structure, without highlighting the most recent intervention. The work undertaken required underpinning inside and outside the building to connect the additional constructions, including a retaining wall and various protections.

The layout of the new apartments respects the basic layout, while redistributing the rooms within the retained walls.

The result is a range of charming apartments, clearly differentiated from traditional and contemporary buildings, and offering all the modern comforts and quality of construction demanded by the PPE standard.

Various options remain open, depending on buyer interest. Given the nature of the building and its particular location, it was not possible to build a covered garage. However, twenty-three outdoor parking spaces are available to tenants.

The site, with a surface area of just 742 m2, is mainly taken up by the building and its parking spaces, with little green space available, although this is not a detrimental feature, given the quality of the environment in which the project is set. On the south side, generous balconies make the most of the location.