Îlot d’Ouchy, Lausanne
Ouchy, a residential complex representing a 20th century residential housing typology, occupies one of Lausanne’s most prestigious locations. Nestled between Avenue d’Ouchy and Place de la Navigation, the estate lays just a short walk away from Lake Geneva. Having retained much of the original substance and its historic character, the ensemble is currently listed as a monument of national significance. This heritage status shaped Burckhardt’s renovation strategy, which focused almost entirely on the interiors: the existing apartments and the conversion of the attic floors. The goal was to intervene minimally by complementing the architectural heritage with a restrained, contemporary design.
Mobimo
2021–2026
Olivier Di Giambattista, Eduardo Baumann
Residential accommodation, Transformation & Renovation
Lausanne, Schweiz
Typological Adjustments
On the ground floor, the renovation closely followed the historic model, restoring the original appearance of the entrances as well as several shopfronts. In the existing apartments above – ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 rooms – the work concentrated primarily on kitchens and wet areas. To improve everyday comfort, a second fully equipped bathroom was added. Typological refinements were made to improve everyday comfort, each apartment supplemented with a second bathroom. So was every master bedroom with adjoining dressing rooms, the lavatory accessed through repurposed built-in cupboards.
Standard floor
A Meticulous Inventory
A meticulous inventory revealed numerous elements of historical value – wood paneling, doors, built‑in wardrobes, decorative plasterwork. Depending on the new floor plan, these were either preserved and restored in place or reused elsewhere. The parquet floors in the apartments were kept as well. In entrance halls, staircases, and corridors, original flooring was uncovered in several areas and, after careful restoration, is now visible once again.
Attic Conversion
The approach in the attic followed the same principle: floors and wood paneling were carefully removed, restored, and reinstalled – either in their original locations or in other parts of the building – to maintain historical continuity. This strategy meets both the expectations of heritage conservation and contemporary standards of sustainability.
New Rooftop Terraces
Seven new apartments have been designed in the attic, ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 rooms. They adopt the typological principles of the lower floors: a spacious central entrance hall provides access to all rooms. Four of the seven units also feature staircases leading to private rooftop terraces, each offering sweeping views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.
