Flexhouse by Swiss architecture firm Evolution looks like a giant sled

Okay, so technically it’s summer in Switzerland, but you can get into a bit of an alpine theme with this distinctive property.

The 173-square-metre home called Flexhouse was finished in March by the Swiss architecture and design firm Evolution and has an amazing view of the lake and surrounding scenery from its two roof terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Executive director Stefan Camenzind says that “it’s a very transient plot; it has a lot of movement … we wanted to create a building that reflected all that movement”.

“There are strict rules around boundary distance and building volume, which means it’s quite difficult to be creative with buildings in Switzerland”, he notes. But Evolution were determined to achieve something more than a modern, static box. 

And they have – the floors and ceilings are made from a white unbroken strip that curves, ribbon-like, from the top to bottom of the structure, drawing the eye with it. The building narrows as well, following the lead of the nearby railway tracks.

The curves are mirrored on the inside with a spiral staircase, which punctures the open-plan living spaces. It’s comfortable too, with master bedroom, guest room, a top-floor studio, concrete floors that are geothermally heated and the glass is triple-glazed.

Topping it off is an underground garage tucked underneath in the hillside – so there are options other than skiing in and out. Grass skis or otherwise.