A Recluse in the Alps – Schuler Villa by Andrea Pelati

The Schuler Villa, designed by Andrea Pelati Architecte is an example of house designs and floor plans where simplicity and privacy are key. Located in the green, tranquil landscape of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in the proximity of the Alps, the home’s sleek grey-paneled exterior and its sparsely adorned interiors make this home a genuine oasis of leisure and relaxation. The layout was designed with an exclusive focus on intimacy. There is virtually no façade to this home, since the wall which faces the street is basically enclosed and shielded. The opposite wall, on the other hand, opens onto the beautiful view of the sloping garden, with an impeccable lawn and wild shrubbery.

The interiors of this home also feature the defining traits of modern house designs and floor plans, as the living room is located in an open space, merged with the kitchen. The sleek floating fireplace in black perfectly matches the simplicity of the couch. Light comes in through a lofted skylight in the ceiling, warming up the place and allowing the inhabitants to bask under the beneficial rays of the sun. The ground floor hosts an apartment that’s specifically meant for rentals, with direct access to the garden. There is also an upstairs floor where the main suite is located, with a hallway connecting the bedroom to the staircase which leads up into the attic. The rest of the space is taken up by the day area, with a southern-facing terrace that expands into the living room. The terrace looks out onto the park and the thatched roofs of the old village nearby. The terrace is shielded for privacy by the façade, whose size varies, thereby creating a screen. The northern wing hosts a second terrace with access to the private garden and a wide view over the neighboring vineyards and the Jura Mountains.

(Source: AP-Architecte.ch)