2025
Preliminary design for the conversion of a single-family home in Tuggen, Canton Schwyz
Preliminary design for the conversion of existing building
"One house, two generations, two fully-fledged residential units from the existing stock."
PHASE
Preliminary design for the conversion of existing building
SERVICE
Architektur
DURATION
8 weeks
READING TIME
5-minute read
The concern
Is it actually possible to develop two independent apartments from a single-family house?
What we did
Activate reserves from utilisation and roof extension, develop a room concept for two parties.
What was the goal?
A sustainable long-term solution for both generations with high-quality living and outdoor spaces.
What was the initial situation?
The detached house offered potential for two separate living units: the existing owners on the ground floor, and a child of the family on the upper and attic floors. While the attic was spacious, its sloping ceilings made it practically unusable. The crucial question was whether and how this could be implemented in a structurally and legally sound manner.
We were given spaces that we couldn't have imagined before.
Owner: Tuggen SZ
What have we accomplished?
The site analysis showed that there were building permit reserves and that the attic conversion was fully permissible. Roof extensions allowed for standard ceiling heights and thus significantly improved usability. Based on this, I developed a spatial concept: an age-appropriate apartment on the ground floor and a spacious family apartment on the upper and attic floors with a gallery and integrated outdoor areas.
What was the result?
The project demonstrates how an existing single-family home can be transformed into two independent living units for two generations through careful analysis and targeted interventions, without fundamentally altering the house.
This is how the collaboration went
01
Get to know
Discuss the generational situation, needs and framework conditions.
02
Site and zoning analysis
Examine potential development opportunities, roof extensions, and outdoor space.
03
Massing study
Develop roof structures, room heights and lighting.
04
Preliminary design
Develop and coordinate a spatial concept for both residential units.
05
Diploma
Complete preliminary design handed over, next phase initiated.
Plain text from the project
Existing reserves are often more valuable than the path to a new building.
What was the added value for the customer?
Clarity about possibilities
The options regarding building regulations and spatial considerations are clearly outlined.
A solution for two generations
Sustainable for both parties in the long term.
Inventory reserves activated
Volume, expansion and outdoor areas are fully utilised.
High quality of living
Spatial and atmospheric quality with manageable interventions.