Are there guidelines or incentives for high-quality Baukultur?

After more than 175 years of family ownership, the owners of Villa Freienstein were looking to sell their 3,500-square-metre property to the highest bidder in 2018. Up to 14 new residential units could be built in the historic park. However, the investor who made the highest bid was unable to obtain the approval of the local heritage authority. Glarus-based architect Reto Fuchs then presented his project, which largely preserved the park, to the family who owned the property and to the authorities. Both found it convincing.

Does the place adapt while at the same time preserving its built heritage?

The new row of four terraced houses on the southern edge of the park represents a restrained densification of the historic ensemble. The historic park spans between the new buildings and the villa. It is largely preserved and has been enriched with additional plants to promote biodiversity. The outdoor space is shared by all the residents. The four terraced houses, with their greenish wood cladding and finely articulated contours, enter into a respectful dialogue with the existing premises.

Does the place promote biodiversity?

The garden has become more biodiverse. Some 350 square metres of lawn have been transformed into a flowering meadow, and 200 square metres have been turned into a field of tall perennials propagated from local seed. With few exceptions, the existing grotto and mature historical trees have been retained. The varied site conditions have resulted in a great diversity of plant and insect species, enriching the garden ecologically. Park Freienstein was nominated for the 2023 Binding Prize for Biodiversity.

Is the place economically viable in the long view?

Maintaining the estate and park became too expensive for the former property owners. The family of three lives in the villa and rents out part of the house. There are now a total of eight dwelling units on the same plot of land – four in the villa and four in the terraced houses. There is also an atelier in the villa and another in the former washhouse in the park. The costs of maintaining the large complex are now shared by many more people.

Does the place foster community?

In cities such as Zurich and Basel, shared housing is an important part of the residential landscape. It’s different in Glarus. Those who can afford it dream of their own single-family home with a garden. A mixed form is being tried out in the Freienstein ensemble. The four terraced houses and the villa are owned by the residents, and part of the villa is rented out. The park, however, has no boundaries. A set of rules stipulates, for example, that no one is allowed to put up a fence and that the entire park is for everyone’s collective use.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

In 1861 a fire destroyed much of Glarus. The Freienstein villa and park were spared. The former industrialist’s villa and the washhouse are two of the few surviving examples of this period and are protected as listed buildings. The park itself is not protected, but individual trees within it are, and the landscape architect has now made an inventory of all the plants. The architect’s restrained intervention shows his respect for the existing condition.

Does the place foster attachment to place?

The Freienstein estate is an exception within the urban fabric of Glarus. The town centre is characterised by an orthogonal grid established during the reconstruction after the fire. The villa and the washhouse stand at an angle to this, while the four terraced houses adopt the rectilinear orientation of the grid. With its mixture of existing and contemporary additions, both in architecture and landscape, the ensemble beautifully bridges the historical and contemporary aspects of Glarus.

Does the design of the place take the surroundings into account?

The four new units are accessed from a secondary road at the southern end of the site. A small forecourt leads to each house, whose functions are stacked on three levels. The staircase leads up in a straight line from the ground floor to the second floor, where the living/dining area and roof terrace are located. Once at the top, the windows and outdoor space open up to the foliage of the treetops. Although the new building was not completed until the end of 2021, it is already surrounded by lush greenery.