XIII - Exploring the sustainable ‘cylinder home’ of Villa Kolb

DESIGN | January 19, 2026

XIII - Exploring the sustainable ‘cylinder home’ of Villa Kolb

Built between 1980–82, the Kolb House in Zurich emerged at a time when sustainable design was still in its infancy. Known as a ‘cylinder home’ due to its roundness, it set a new standard in an era when “eco-friendly” was often associated with compromised aesthetics.

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After years teaching design in Chicago, Kolb returned home to find fame and wealth via the invention of a modular, prefabricated staircase, which he patented in 1965. The staircase naturally appears in his bespoke home. In fact, the house is composed of leftover materials from its production – with metal offcuts from Kolb’s factory used stones sourced from the site’s excavation.

Kolb cited Jung as an influence, noting the psychologist’s idea that a circular home evokes “the protected mother’s lap (unconsciously the womb).” Yet the design serves practical purposes as well: round structures are inherently more energy-efficient, with no corners for cold air to collect.

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At its center, a large water cistern collects rainwater from the roof, which is then routed through the fire grate to support the heating system. Meanwhile, fish ponds and floating walkways reinforce the home’s vision of a connected, organic environment.

The circular, open-plan interior unified the many concepts Kolb had explored throughout his career – from traditional Japanese art to organic architecture and industrial construction – all supported by a sustainable energy system.

The building is regarded as a Gesamtkunstwerk, or “total work of art,” seamlessly integrating art, architecture and technology into a single vision. An environment well aligned with RIMOWA’s own design philosophy.

Photographer: Simon Menges

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