005 Blue House – Herzog & de Meuron

Project: 1979
Realization: 1979-1980

Taking on the superficial configuration of different elements of the surrounding suburban houses, the Blue House at once aligns with and distances itself from its neighbours. The curvature of the northern concrete block wall appears to give the building more volume and weight; an impression that is, however, revoked by the thin layer of ultramarine paint (Yves Klein’s favourite colour) that allows the brush stroke to remain visible. The impression of fragility is also emphasised by the manifestation of the construction joint on the street facade with its eccentrically placed, prefabricated reinforced-concrete window opening.

The building opens towards the garden by means of a loggia-like balcony. On the inside a filigreed, curved metal staircase leads to the attic. The provision of a partially walled garden establishes a theme that is taken up again in the House for an Art Collector.

Herzog & de Meuron, 1995

Drawings

Team

Partners: Jacques Herzog; Pierre de Meuron
Project Team: Dieter Jüngling

Facts

Planning: Construction Management: Herzog & de Meuron Basel Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; Structural Engineering: Helmut Pauli, Ingenieurbüro Schaub, Basel, Switzerland
Building Data: Site Area: 5'984 sqft, 556 sqm; Gross floor area (GFA): 1'313 sqft, 122 sqm; Footprint: 721 sqft, 67 sqm; Gross volume (GV): 24'720 cbft, 700 cbm

Bibliography

“First Works. Emerging Architectural Experimentation of the 1960s & 1970s.” Edited by: Brett Steele, Francisco Gonzáles de Canales. Exh. Cat. “First Works. Emerging Architectural Experimentation of the 1960s & 1970s.” Architectural Association. London. 6 November 2009 – 13 February 2010. London, AA Publications, 2009.

Nobuyuki Yoshida (Ed.): “Architecture and Urbanism. Herzog & de Meuron 1978-2002.” Tokyo, A+U Publishing Co., Ltd., 02.2002.

“Herzog & de Meuron. Natural History.” Edited by: Philip Ursprung. Exh. Cat. Herzog & de Meuron. Archaeology of the Mind. Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal. 23 October 2002 – 6 April 2003. 2nd ed. Baden, Lars Müller, 2005.

Gerhard Mack Herzog & de Meuron: “Herzog & de Meuron 1978-1988. Das Gesamtwerk. Band 1. The Complete Works. Volume 1.” Edited by: Gerhard Mack. Basel / Boston / Berlin, Birkhäuser, 1997. Vol. No. 1.

Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Stanislaus von Moos: “Apariencia y vulneracion. Appearance and Injury. Stanislaus von Moos entrevista a Jacques Herzog i a Pierre de Meuron.” In: Josep-Lluís Mateo (Ed.). “Quaderns d’Arquitectura i Urbanisme.” Vol. No. 167/168, Barcelona, Colegio de Arquitectura de Cataluña, 10.1985. pp. 50-79.

Martin Steinmann: “Blue House. Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron.” In: Toshio Nakamura (Ed.). “Architecture and Urbanism.” Vol. No. 175, Tokyo, A+U Publishing Co., Ltd., 04.1985. pp. 78-81.

Martin Steinmann: “Haus in Oberwil.” In: Verband freierwerbender Schweizer Architekten. Fédération Suisse des Architectes Indépendants FSAI (Ed.). “Archithese. Zeitschrift und Schriftenreihe für Architektur und Kunst. Revue thématique d’Architecture et d’Art. Auseinandersetzung mit Architektur in der Schweiz.” Vol. No. 1, Niederteufen, Arthur Niggli, 01.1982. pp. 30-31.

Herzog und de Meuron: “Kleines Einfamilienhaus in Oberwil BL.” In: Verband freierwerbender Schweizer Architekten. Fédération Suisse des Architectes Indépendants FSAI (Ed.). “Archithese. Zeitschrift und Schriftenreihe für Architektur und Kunst. Revue thématique d’Architecture et d’Art. Nachkriegs-Generation. Schweizer Architekten unter 40.” Vol. No. 1, Niederteufen, Arthur Niggli, 01.1980. pp. 38-39.