spillmann echsle architekten

The listed Haus Zur Sommerau in Uetikon is situ­ated on a ridge in the immediate vicinity of school buildings, a community centre and the Uetikon Kirchenhügel. The property is defined by the large front garden with its bordered, circular “Brezelwegen”, garden beds, fences and historical garden gates and is a reminder of the prestigious buildings of the upper classes.

The house was likely built in 1902 by Karl August Veit, architect of the Weissenrain schoolhouse, which lies in front of the building and with which it shares a strong resemblance – both are realised in the historical style. The house is characterised by its half-hipped roof, roof brackets and southeast-facing loggias. The conservation order includes the rustic plinth made of sandstone ashlars, the diamond-pointed corner stones and the detailed design of the artificial stone window casements.

Inside, stucco ceiling mouldings, dadoes, painted imitation wood, some of which is still in its original state, and the careful design of the apartment entrance doors all affirm the historicist approach. All these elements have been carefully restored in accordance with preservation requirements. The roof has been insulated and supplemented with three small windows and most of the original tiles were reinstalled and completed with historical tiles from a conservation warehouse. Spatially, the interventions were limited to the kitchen and bathroom areas on all floors, which have been intentionally designed in keeping with the overall appearance of the historical building. Only the southeast room on the ground floor was modified by partitioning off a narrow space for a cloakroom and a guest toilet.

The green which serves as the building’s primary colour and the lincrusta, a deeply embossed wallpaper made of linseed oil and installed in the staircase, resulted from conservation analyses. The historical parquet floors with herringbone and Versailles patterns were sanded and oiled. The dado woodwork was finished in an oil paint brushstroke and the walls with a mineral paint. A seemingly timeless terrazzo and stainless-steel surfaces characterise the design of the kitchen. The bathrooms are lined with Moroccan cement tiles. Graceful green cabinetry, marble-lined washbasins and carefully designed lighting characterise the ethereal bathrooms.