Perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Lugano, The Stealth House is a striking example of modern residential architecture in Switzerland. Designed by architect Giacomo Zamboni of ZMB Architettura, the project could be considered one of the most beautiful modern houses in the world, defined by minimalism, discretion, and a powerful relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Conceived as a modern family home and private retreat, The Stealth House was designed to accommodate a large family while also offering generous spaces for hosting guests and representation. At the core of the project lies the idea of a large open-plan living area, visually and physically connected to the outdoors, paired with more intimate and private family spaces, including the night zone, spa area with indoor pool, sauna, and gym.
Unifying these spaces is the home’s most iconic architectural element: a large abstract black roof structure, crafted by Carpentinox Sagl, which floats above the residence like a protective veil. This bold architectural gesture defines the identity of the house, acting as both shelter and sculptural form while framing views toward the lake and surrounding landscape.
A house tour of The Stealth House reveals interiors designed down to the finest detail, guided by the principles of minimalist architecture and contemporary interior design. Elements are intentionally concealed and integrated: switches, electrical outlets, storage units, and custom cabinetry are seamlessly embedded within handle-less boiserie and architectural grooves. This approach enhances spatial clarity, visual lightness, and reflects the refined lifestyle of the homeowners.
Water plays a central role in the experience of the house. The outdoor infinity pool, built by Acquaplan, mirrors the lake beyond, visually extending the horizon and dissolving the boundary between architecture and nature. Inside, a second indoor swimming pool creates a calm and immersive wellness environment, offering year-round relaxation and comfort.
The architect’s vision was to create an architecture perceived as simple, clean, linear, and essential, deeply connected to the exterior. Large openings and controlled transparency allow residents to experience the changing light, weather, and seasons throughout the day, while constantly engaging with the breathtaking view over Lake Lugano.
Through its restrained material palette, minimalist detailing, and strong connection to the landscape, The Stealth House stands as a refined example of contemporary architecture, where elegance, comfort, and nature coexist in perfect balance.
The project is located in Morcote, a medieval village in the south of Switzerland.
Next to the village is the residential area of Arbostora and in this basin sheltered by
the mountains and facing south with a favorable microclimate lies the stealth project.
Stealth was born from the desire to have minimal impact on the land.
Enhancing the landscape by hiding itself despite the generous size of the house.
The project features a roof, a black skin that wraps around the entire building
both abstracting and camouflaging it at the same time.
In all projects, but especially in this one, the journey,
the way you arrive and move through the building was important to me.
So from the entrance you are guided into the house through a grand staircase.
This grand staircase leads to the water patio. The water patio is the first space.
Although it is an outdoor space, it is an integral part of the home's environment.
From the water space there is a transparency through the living room,
the external porch, the garden, the infinity pool and finally it opens up to the lake landscape.
Through the central space of the living room, which is completely empty and structure-free
because the roof, a central element of stealth, works like a bridge,
a large black wing that with its 25 meter span completely opens up the space.
Beyond the two panelings that contain the east and west sides of the living room,
on the east side there are service areas such as the garage, the kitchen, the laundry rooms,
while on the west side there are the children's bedrooms on the living room floor
and the master bedroom and indoor pool on the lower floor.
All the freestanding furniture elements can be modular. So every time I visit stealth,
the living room, composed of this central sofa island, takes on new forms because they are all
modular elements, just like the large dining table, which can have both a linear shape and
form a large square. However, they are all very essential elements and have no desire to stand out.
Everything is very discreet. Everything is concealed.
Even finding switches inside the house is difficult. All elements are handle-free.
Everything works through grooves and all this favors the idea of linearity and simplicity.
The idea was to appear as a single level house, but in reality there are three levels
and below the large living room is the recreational space that needed to be illuminated somehow.
So a triangle was cut to bring light from the upper floor porch down into the gym,
which then overlooks the indoor pool, giving the impression of not being an underground space.
Similarly, the master bedroom is a through space, also receiving light from a patio facing north
and opening into an intimate garden to the south.
In architecture, natural light is a central element, and this transparency of the living
room emphasizes the relationship between north and south, allowing for always having the pleasant
indirect light from the north, as well as the strength of direct light from the south.
The large windows are protected for the summer by the projecting porch,
allowing you to fully enjoy even the hottest summer days.
Artificial light is an integrated element, as it is for all other elements of the house,
and is hidden within grooves that appear as both perimeter and transverse cuts in the spaces.
And within these grooves are all the technical elements of the house,
such as the curtains, air conditioning, lights, security elements.
Everything is integrated into the architecture and controlled by home automation.
Depending on how you want to use the spaces, you can dim the lights or create scenarios
that change the atmosphere and adapt it to the needs of the moment.
The simplicity of the materials was important. We used exposed reinforced concrete for all
elements that needed to be both structural and aesthetic, from the entrance staircase
that guides and slopes down towards the valley, to all the supporting elements,
which are also made of reinforced concrete and all check.
Above this concrete structure, a large sail was placed, serving as the abstract element
that conceals the functional parts of the roof, so we don't have any vents or gutters.
This black skin gives the house its invisibility and thus its name stealth.
It's the technology that in this case makes a house invisible to the eye, respecting the landscape.
