Multiple dwelling in Willisau

Ceramic elements linking nature and craftsmanship

By making an unusual choice of material for a multiple dwelling in the small town of Willisau, located between Bern and Zurich, CAS Architekten were able to do justice to the unique location of the building between the town’s historic centre and its green spaces.

The facade of the residential building is dominated by ceramic tiles installed vertically, interspersed by windows. Ceramic elements installed horizontally reveal each of the intermediate floors to the eye from the outside.

The architects tested various colour samples and created huge mock-ups. The shades of green selected create a link between the building and the surrounding park. They also give a nod to the colours traditionally associated with Willisau. The three-dimensional structure of the tiles brings the facade alive. For the bond, it was important to the architects that the craftsmanship remained visible, making a conscious decision for the horizontal lines to be clearly discernable over the convex rowlock courses.

To complement the premium quality and durability of the three-dimensional ceramic facade, the architects chose the StoTherm Mineral facade insulation system, which is non-combustible, very robust, and leaves the wall diffusion-open.