How do you renovate an old apartment in central Lausanne?

Many buildings in the centre of Lausanne date from the 19th and early 20th century. They offer generous volumes, parquet floors, mouldings and sometimes fireplaces, but also ageing services, compartmentalised rooms and light that varies a great deal with the floor and orientation. Because the city is built on a slope, the same building can have bright upper floors with lake views and much darker rooms on the street side.

A good renovation keeps what gives an old apartment its charm and fixes what gets in the way of daily life.

Start with an on-site diagnosis

We begin with a survey and analysis on site: measurements, condition of floors and walls, position of load-bearing walls and technical constraints (electrical, plumbing, ventilation). This tells us what can be opened up, moved or kept, and prepares the discussions with the régie (property manager) or the administrator of the co-ownership (PPE).

Modernise without erasing the character

• Open the kitchen onto the living room where the structure allows, as in the complete kitchen renovation at La Barre, which kept its rustic charm.
• Use lighting to compensate for darker rooms: at Grancy, circadian lighting follows the rhythm of the day.
• Make every square metre count in small spaces, as in the Petit Chêne studio.
• Choose natural materials (wood, clay, wool) that sit well with original parquet and mouldings.

Permits and site coordination

Purely interior works that leave the structure and facades untouched generally do not need a permit. As soon as a window, a load-bearing wall or the use of a room is involved, an authorisation may be required. We check this during the concept phase and prepare the file if needed, and we always recommend confirming with the commune and reading the PPE rules. We then coordinate the craftsmen, control quality and follow the project through to the last finish, as your single point of contact.

Key takeaways

• The on-site diagnosis shapes the whole project: structure, services and light.
• The character of an old apartment is an asset worth preserving.
• Permits are checked from the concept phase, with the commune and the PPE.