Designed by four young architects from the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, this is the first time a Swiss pavilion has been awarded the Golden Lion for the “Best National Contribution”, according to an ETH statement.

“We are extremely excited to receive this Golden Lion for our exhibition at the Swiss Pavilion,” said Alessandro Bosshard, Li Tavor, Matthew van der Ploeg and Ani Vihervaara. They were supported by ETH professor Alexander Lehnerer and the Swiss arts council Pro Helvetia.

Svizerra 240: House Tour offers an “exaggerated architectural sensibility” through which visitors can see the “peculiarities” of their own homes from the perspective of an outsider. For instance, it was fitted with residential objects in different sizes, offering visitors the perspective of a giant or a child alongside their own normal perspective.

“We very much hope that this opens up new ways of reflecting on the role the apartments’ interior shell plays in shaping our lives and our identities,” said the up-and-coming architects.

Two other ETH architects won awards at this year’s Architecture Biennale: ETH professor Jan de Vylder won the Silver Lion for a promising young participant, and ETH professor Adam Caruso received a Special Mention for National Participation for his contribution to the British pavilion “Island”.