Herzog & de Meuron’s One Roof: A Striking Bank Headquarters on Lake Geneva

Introduction: Relevance of Commercial Design in Residential Architecture

While our focus typically centers on residential architecture, the exploration of exceptional commercial projects can offer critical insights into materiality, space planning, and environmental integration. One such example is Herzog & de Meuron’s One Roof—the newly completed headquarters for Swiss private bank Lombard Odier, situated on the serene shores of Lake Geneva.

Designed to unify the bank’s 2,000 employees under a single roof, the project acts as a symbol of cohesion, sustainability, and architectural innovation. This headquarters blurs formal boundaries between natural landscape and built form, serving as a case study not only in corporate workspace design but also in spatial strategies directly translatable to high-performance residential design.

Historical Context: Reimagining Corporate Architecture

Commissioned in 2017 and selected from a competitive design process among eight architectural firms, Herzog & de Meuron’s proposal for Lombard Odier’s new headquarters exemplifies precision, restraint, and environmental responsibility. The firm’s legacy of rigorous material exploration and contextual design is evident in this striking intervention along Lake Geneva.

The goal was not merely to erect a functional office space but to create a humane, inspiring environment that promotes productivity and wellbeing—an approach increasingly relevant in contemporary residential architecture. With construction completed in 2024, the project captures the evolving typology of workplace design, from isolated, efficiency-driven architectures to community-driven, nature-integrated models of space.

Design Principles: Unity, Transparency, and Sustainability

One Roof is guided by a triad of principles that not only define its form but offer broader implications for residential design.

1. Integration with Natural Surroundings

The fully glazed façades allow each interior space to engage visually with Lake Geneva and the Alpine horizon. This immersive transparency erodes perceived boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces—an increasingly utilized strategy in high-end residential architecture to promote a stronger connection with nature.

2. Spatial Flexibility and Collaboration

Internally, the building showcases flexible floor plans and co-working environments, including clustered meeting spaces, informal lounges, and a vast central atrium. This variety of space types reflects a movement toward experiential and activity-based layouts used in contemporary residential co-living developments and adaptive reuse projects.

3. Environmental Performance

Sustainability was built into the project from its inception. Recycled construction materials, a 750 sqm solar array, and the sophisticated GeniLac energy system—drawing thermal energy from lake water—demonstrate scalable strategies for minimizing carbon emissions. In multi-residential settings, similar passive and active systems can yield reduced energy footprints while enhancing occupant comfort.

Technical Specifications

• Length: Approximately 170 meters
• Height: Eight stories
• Structural System: Cantilevered horizontal concrete slabs supported by slender white-painted steel columns
• Façade: Full-height glazing with UV-treated performance glass
• Structural Materials: Recycled cement foundations, in-situ concrete superstructure, timber interior elements
• Energy Systems: GeniLac lake-water heating/cooling, solar PV panels, green roofing, and rainwater harvesting system

Innovative Building Techniques

1. Cantilevered Concrete Slabs

Architecturally, the cantilevering of slab edges provides passive solar shading—an important climatological adaptation for highly glazed façades. This principle can be scaled to residential buildings, particularly in climates with intense seasonal solar gain.

2. Glazed Façades for Transparency and Light

Full-glass façades introduce an openness that redefines boundaries. In homes, this opens a conversation on using thermally performant glazing and establishing framed views. Floor-to-ceiling glazing is no longer a luxury but an architectural strategy for psychological and physiological well-being.

3. Columnar Support for Visual Lightness

The exposed white columns create visual rhythm while maintaining unobstructed internal views. In residential projects, especially open-plan lofts or courtyard houses, slender supports can uplift volumes without overburdening the visual field—emphasizing horizontality and harmony.

Insights for Residential Architecture

Despite being a commercial project, One Roof presents design strategies highly relevant to residential architecture. Below are key concepts architects and homeowners can adopt:

Natural Integration as Core Strategy

The building’s sensitivity to its lakefront site encourages a deeper consideration of siting, solar orientation, and natural views. In residential projects, this means aligning communal spaces like living and dining areas with landscape features and light paths.

Spatial Flexibility for Changing Lifestyles

Modern homes must now serve multiple functions: workspace, relaxation zones, and communal gathering areas. The spatial fluidity at One Roof underscores the value of non-hierarchical space planning—where movable partitions, modular furniture, and broad floorplates create transformative environments.

Built-In Sustainability

Eco-conscious systems such as geothermal heating, solar integration, and water reuse are no longer niche preferences but necessities. Single-family and multi-family homes should consider lifecycle costs by identifying local sustainable materials and investing in foundational energy-efficient systems.

Regional Case Studies with Comparable Principles

North America: Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright

Perhaps the most iconic American home that fuses structure and site, Fallingwater illustrates the principle of building with—not on—a landscape. Its cantilevered decks mirror the logic found in One Roof, offering passive shading and a visual extension of interior space.

Australia: Green Star Residential Projects Inspired by Bosco Verticale

In cities like Melbourne and Sydney, urban residential towers are increasingly adopting vegetative façades and passive climate strategies. These developments, influenced by Milan’s Bosco Verticale and aligned with One Roof’s green roof and energy systems, prioritize biophilic design in dense contexts.

Europe: Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier

A forerunner in modernism, Villa Savoye exemplifies transparency, pilotis, and open-plan living—all features echoed in Herzog & de Meuron’s design. Its emphasis on horizontality and modular space responds to similar cultural and environmental imperatives.

Closing Thoughts: Toward a Unified Design Ethos

Herzog & de Meuron’s One Roof headquarters is not just an icon of contemporary commercial design; it is a blueprint for unified thinking in architecture—where nature, sustainability, flexibility, and well-being drive form and function. For architects and homeowners alike, the lessons embedded in this project are manifold and relevant.

Whether designing a single-family residence in California, a passive house in Oslo, or a co-housing development in Sydney, values of transparency, modularity, and energy efficiency remain constant. By studying projects like One Roof, designers can uncover enduring tools for thoughtful, forward-looking residential solutions.

Practical Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

• Site Responsiveness: Consider natural features not as obstacles but as opportunities to inform layout and material selection.
• Spatial Adaptability: Design for future transformation—accommodate new technologies, lifestyle changes, and growing families.
• Material Integrity: Use low-carbon, local materials that support thermal performance and reduce environmental impact.
• Technological Integration: Explore options for solar power generation, greywater systems, and passive heating/cooling strategies.
• Design for Well-being: Frame views, maximize daylight, and create spaces that promote mental and physical well-being.