Felchlin’s Chocolate Villa Inspires Modern Residential Architecture

Always with a View of the Surrounding Mountains

Architect and urban planner Ihab Morgan from Zurich’s Townset firm arranged the new buildings to ensure they always provide views of the surrounding mountains, park, and historic villa. The spacious gaps connect the buildings with the surrounding villa-like structures, creating a harmonious atmosphere. While the buildings may look similar at first glance, the design follows a thoughtful structure. Each building adapts to the slope, with staggered floor levels, allowing the architecture to integrate flexibly into the terrain.

A Resilient Aluminum Roof in the Alpine Region

One standout feature is the rooftop landscape, with 60 different roof surfaces varying in slope and form. Designed to complement the historic villa and surrounding mountain silhouette, the roof is clad with PREFALZ aluminum strips, known for their durability in the harsh Alpine weather. The standing seams stretch across multiple roof surfaces, creating a continuous, visually cohesive roofing landscape. Instead of traditional sheet metal details, internal drainage channels are used at the eaves, ridges, valleys, and crests, covered with perforated metal matching the roof color, ensuring a smooth, even appearance. The 45 round skylights posed a special challenge. Their precise integration into the complex roof geometry required custom cuts and detailed planning. The skylight drainage also runs through concealed gutters.

Masterful Craftsmanship and Precision Planning

“It was an incredibly challenging task to implement details like hidden drainage and the connections for the skylights correctly,” says Gregor Bless, managing director of Bless Gebäudehüllen, a renowned family-owned company from Erstfeld. “The architect had clear ideas that motivated us to deliver perfect work.” With completion in late 2023 and the already awarded ICONIC AWARD 2021 in the “Architecture and Urban Planning” category, as well as a nomination for the World Architecture Festival 2024 in Singapore, the project stands as an exemplary model of modern architecture, balancing sustainability and aesthetics.

A Landmark Project in the Schwyz Valley

For Rinaldo Betschart, owner of konzept.b Gebäudehülleplanung GmbH, Liebwylen became a personal project. “Together, we developed technically functional solutions that met the high standards required. The execution was perfect thanks to the skilled ARGE Bless-Betschart team,” says the consultant for building envelope planning for pitched and flat roofs. “It’s crucial that all parties pull together and send well-qualified workers to the site,” adds architect Ihab Morgan. The collaboration between architects, engineers, clients, and craftsmen made this exceptional project possible.