Three generations under one roof
Individual design Nottwil
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m² living space
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m² plot
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Three generations under one roof
After two wonderful years in sunny California, the time seemed right to return to Switzerland and fulfill their long-held dream of building a house. The couple also wanted their children's grandparents to live in the same home. For professional reasons, the couple and their two children had lived in California (USA) for two years. Although they enjoyed the lifestyle, the unspoiled nature, and surfing there, returning to Switzerland wasn't difficult. They missed their family and friends. Furthermore, they felt the Swiss school system was a better fit for their children's education. The timing seemed perfect to finally realize their dream of a house with a garden.
It had to be somewhere in the countryside, close to Lucerne, as the client works there. Proximity to nature was also important. "My husband and I are very active; he does a lot of sports, and I enjoy swimming or stand-up paddleboarding at the lake. Our children join in everything." We were able to find the perfect building plot for the family: In Nottwil, an existing residential area was being expanded, with a view of Lake Sempach and proximity to the forest and mountains.
It was clear from the start that it should be a single-family home with an attached apartment for the homeowner's parents. "In my work, I often see that people are overwhelmed by living alone. They no longer live together as an extended family with several generations, even though family support is invaluable, especially in everyday life," says the homeowner. Besides, the children enjoy spending time with their grandparents. "Right now, we need my in-laws' support, and at some point, they'll need us even more," she knows. Therefore, it was important that the three-story house also have an elevator so that it would be wheelchair accessible if needed. "When we moved in, it was our son who needed the elevator because he had broken his leg. My in-laws are still very active and prefer the stairs." Separate entrances weren't necessary, but the shared entrance area was to be bright and welcoming. This is thanks to a large window directly next to the right side, top left: Modern appliances from Bora and V-Zug make kitchen work easier.
The basement is shared; the ground floor is occupied by the couple with their two children and two cats, while the homeowner's parents live on the first floor. Since the family frequently hosts friends from abroad, the first office has a Murphy bed. Between the staircase and the elevator is the passageway to the double garage and the basement storage rooms. The utility room and technical equipment are also located here. The first floor comprises the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and dressing room, two equally sized children's bedrooms, a bathroom, and a spacious living area with an open-plan kitchen and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that extend the living space outdoors in the summer.
The garden is practically designed, providing ample space for the children to play. The homeowner has also created a small vegetable garden. The panoramic window in the kitchen offers a view of the lake and floods the house with natural light. An acoustic ceiling ensures a pleasant atmosphere, while the fireplace creates a cozy ambiance during the colder months. The homeowner's artwork and handmade decorations complement the carefully selected furnishings. Thanks to building automation, lighting, heating, and air conditioning can be conveniently controlled remotely. A central vacuum system and a laundry chute also simplify daily life. In addition to the Minergie construction standard, it was very important to the homeowner that the electricity in every room could be completely switched off with a light switch. She particularly wants to promote restful sleep in the bedrooms. The apartment of her in-laws on the top floor is also equipped with these technical features. This apartment boasts a charming conservatory and a large terrace with views of the lake and mountains.
“We greatly appreciated the collaboration with Atmoshaus . Since we were living in California during the project phase, we communicated extensively with the planners via Skype, and that worked very well.” The client also praised their friendly manner and cooperative approach, noting that whenever something seemed impossible, they made it possible. All three generations are extremely satisfied with the result.
Feedback from F. & S., Bottenwil
"Our numerous change requests and adjustments were fully taken into account, and new possibilities were constantly found to enable us to implement our visions."
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