Within a green suburb of Zurich with sweeping views across Lake Zurich, Bolzano-based interior design studio NOA has reimagined an existing villa to the needs of its new residents. The result is a living environment that exudes tranquillity, comfort and vitality — a space that transforms everyday life into a welcoming environment for both social gathering and moments of retreat.
The building was designed in 2019 by the Swiss architectural firms LOT-Z and Meyer Dudesek Architects for a couple with a great passion for books, which became the conceptual starting point for the project. The L-shaped villa is characterized by a deliberately simple architectural language: clean lines, a precise choice of materials and a minimalist design define its appearance. Exposed concrete walls and oak parquet flooring dominate the material palette, whilst decorative elements are used sparingly. Some of the west- facing walls are constructed using glass blocks to ensure privacy from the neighbors whilst still allowing natural light into the rooms. Generous glass surfaces, framed by slender aluminium frames, almost blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces and open the view to the surrounding landscape.
At the heart of the villa lies a spacious atrium, which opens immediately behind the entrance area. This is where the living room is situated, featuring exposed concrete surfaces and a ceiling height of over 16 feet. Prior to NOA’s intervention, a gallery level and a large library wall had defined this space as the central element of the house. Just outside the living room, a water basin with a ginkgo tree and water lilies echoes the nearby lake, bringing its presence into the garden while visually extending the interior spaces. The first floor originally contained two workspaces, while the second floor was reserved for the couple and housed the master bedroom, an open-plan bathroom, and a private terrace.
The interior design responds to the requirements of the new owners, who wanted a contemporary refresh of the interiors. The goal was to infuse the living area with a lighter, more open atmosphere, while strategically introducing more color throughout the villa.
In NOA’s design, the spacious rooms were reimagined: Through the targeted use of color and textiles, such as rugs by Loominology, Walter Knoll and Nanimarquina, the comfort of the spaces throughout the building is enhanced without compromising the original architecture or the architects’ vision. The focus is on the living space: an area designed for gathering, shared evenings with friends, and consciously curated social interaction. The villa is conceived as a home that fosters openness, communication, and communal living.
“The building and its interior design were originally tailored to the first owners. As the large library wall no longer met the needs of the new residents, we designed a new, vibrant wall unit for displaying art, travel souvenirs, family photos, and additional storage that also creates a clear design accent,” explains Florian Marsoner, interior designer at NOA. “With eucalyptus green as the main color, we reference the villa’s strong connection to nature and bring this atmosphere into the interior.”
The first floor presented a significant structural challenge for NOA: it was necessary to create a child’s bedroom with a new en-suite bathroom, despite the absence of existing plumbing in this area. A kitchen cupboard on the ground floor was repurposed to route the installations to the upper floor with minimal intervention in the existing structure. The new child’s room features a refined layout and design. Its raised sleeping area is reached via a staggered staircase, adding a playful element to the space. On the same floor, the two studies have been reconfigured with multifunctional furnishings, allowing them to be transformed into guest rooms when needed.
The second floor serves as a private retreat for the parents. The open-plan wellness area includes the new sauna, a bathtub, a shower, and ample space for a fitness mat and chaise longue. A boudoir corridor is an integral part of the layout of this private spa, seamlessly connecting it to the master bedroom. The WC zone and the vanity area are separated from the hallway by a furniture element providing generous storage, ensuring that functionality and openness can coexist harmoniously. The private terrace provides a quiet space to relax outside.
“The connection to the lake has always been central to our planning. The house is consistently oriented towards the water, allowing the calming presence of the lake to be felt in every room. The interior design extends this principle, cultivating a serene and tranquil atmosphere,” says Marsoner.
In the outdoor area on the ground floor, where a partially covered terrace frames the water basin, NOA created several islands with seating and furnishings, visually dividing the large open space into more intimate and functional zones. The spacious dining area is complemented by the chairs by A. van Havre, Ethnicraft, found in the interior. The lounge area opens onto the garden designed by landscape architects “Uniola” and offers space to linger. Seating by Vincent Sheppard creates small, cosy retreat areas that offer privacy whilst encouraging people to sit together. The terrace on the first floor, more secluded and lush, equipped with a pizza oven, teak seating and a table by Gommaire, evokes the feeling of being immersed in a verdant, tranquil oasis where nature envelops every corner of the space.
Photography by Alex Filz.
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