FARO
FARO
Single-Familie House FARO: a House That Follows the Slopes
Four staggered levels follow the slope of the site, and the living area's large, glazed façade opens deliberately toward Lake Constance and the sunset.
Four Levels Down the Slope
Single-Familie House | Location: steep hillside site | Livingfloor space: 302 m² | Volume: 1,317 m³ | Rooms: 6.5 rooms | Construction: masonry construction
FARO steps down the hillside in four staggered levels. The name is Italian for lighthouse, a reference to the house's orientation toward the water. Each level sets back slightly from the one below, so the building follows the terrain rather than reshaping it. The glazing of the first floor stands out, opening deliberately toward Lake Constance. A pitched roof completes the volume; local building regulations require a pitched roof in this neighbourhood, yet from the street it remains barely visible.
Built Against the Change in Level
The ground floor, at garden level, is deliberately built taller than usual to absorb the site's steep change in level. An exterior stair on the east side brings guests down from street level to garden level, while residents reach the house directly through the garage in the basement and a centrally placed lift. The room layout follows the same logic: garage, cellar and technical room in the basement, two children's rooms and an office on the ground floor, the open kitchen, living and dining area with a covered terrace on the first floor, and the master suite with office, fitness room and its own terrace on the top floor. Across the four levels, the house totals 6.5 rooms.
A Response to a Steep Slope
Rather than running in a single straight line, the glazing of the first floor is set at a slight angle. It follows the direction toward Lake Constance and the sunset, instead of aligning rigidly with the building's edge. This orientation also determines the position of the terrace in front of it, making the outward view a deliberate part of the architecture, directly in front of the main living spaces on this floor. FARO shows how a house can respond to a steep slope without distancing itself from the terrain. The staggering of the four levels, the taller ground floor and the glazing angled toward Lake Constance give the building its clear, vertically layered appearance. The separate access routes for guests and residents add a considered functional order to this clear architectural stance.
