The ‘Chalet’ is by far the most famous product of Swiss architecture. The wooden dwellings with sloping roof and over hanging eaves, are as much a part of the Swiss landscape as theAlps themselves. The single storey bunkers traditionally served as seasonal farms for dairy cattle in the summer months, and haven’t changed much since these humble beginnings.
But high up on a mountain pass in the Bernese Oberland, a new type of seasonal home has emerged as a stark contrast to the timber heavy squats the country is so famed for. With its back turned to the harsh northerly winds, this contemporary take on the log cabin straddles the vistas to the south via a huge five meter glass pane that invites the landscape to fill its vast, open plan spaces.
Swiss planning regulators favor lots of small, pokey windows, this house is anything but. Rather than shielding its inhabitants from the outdoors, the house embraces the mountainous terrain, with large glass doors opening out onto the wooden terrace that appears to float alongside the house.
With its elegant, concrete slab base, it juts out into the landscape like a beached vessel. The domineering fireplace runs through the core of the building, dragging its brutal lines from the basement to the roof three floors above.
Up the handsome open-tread staircase the bedrooms and bathrooms blend into a continuous passage that invites you to keep moving. The large, panoramic windows throughout keep the house light and airy,while the double insulated walls and thick wood decking keep the cool temperatures out. The sparse furnishings and sleek lines are a bold statement that matches the buildings unrelenting exterior. Rather than cluttering the house with gaudy ornaments and stuffy fixtures, it playso n the sparse landscape it so elegantly sits in.
Traditional chalets have a tendency to shy away from the landscape,sealing off its inhabitants to the beauty of the environment it inhabits. This building however, embraces the countryside with an unyielding arrogance and swagger. Perching precariously at thetip of a mountain, it stares boldly at its surroundings. The interior eschews its contemporary credentials with clean, simple lines and muted colors. But at the same time, it feels traditional,homely, and welcoming. A small homage to the portly abodes that continue to dominate the Swiss landscape. By Matthew Hussey
Recent posts
-
February 24, 2021
Tipo949, Renovation in Old Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel
The exterior of the Tipo949 renovation project by architects Raz Melamed and Omer Danan drew our attention first. We absolutely love the way this two-level apartment...
-
February 18, 2021
Villa La Grintosa, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy
Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) is a resort destination in northern Sardinia, Italy. Parisian Architect and founder of Stera Architectures, Stefania Stera, grew up in this...
-
February 7, 2021
Residence DVB Knokke, Knokke-Heist, Belgium
Built in the summer of 2020, DVB Knokke residence is a single-family house located in the province of West Flanders in the municipality of Knokke-Heist,...
-
January 23, 2021
nCAVED Vacation Residence – Serifos, Cyclades, Greece
Designed by Athens-based MOLD Architects nCAVED is currently high on our list of genuinely original yet refreshingly unpretentious vacation residences. The drama of the severe rocky...
-
January 22, 2021
Casa Mais Linda, Condomínio Terras de São José, Brazil
Casa Mais Linda (Most Beautiful House) is located in the historic municipality of Itu, about 100 kilometres west of the city of São Paulo in...
-
January 16, 2021
Bananananana Coffee, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
Instead of going for cozy or comfortable, the designers of Bananananana Coffee went for shock value in their design concept for the 60-square-metre (646 sq.ft)...
-
January 4, 2021
RN Residence, Itaúna, Minas Gerais, Brazil
RN Residence is a recreational property overlooking a massive dam in the small town of Itaúna in the State of Minas Gerais in the southeast...
-
December 7, 2020
Moore House Restoration, Los Feliz, Los Angeles
It is always risky to renovate a classic or potentially classic building. Is this really a classic and worth saving? Are the changes necessary? Will...
-
November 29, 2020
Historic Residence Renovation, Pacific Heights, San Francisco
A family of four had purchased a gorgeous, white Edwardian-style building on a hilly street corner in the historic Pacific Heights area of San Francisco...
-
November 28, 2020
Ando Japanese-Spanish Restaurant in Hong Kong
An eclectic fusion of styles, cuisines, cultural influences, traditions and urban settings was the inspiration and starting point for the dark and masculine design for...
-
November 27, 2020
Penthouse Loft Renovation in Greenwich Village, New York
A prolific home-swapper, art lover, entrepreneur and hotelier, Kevin Wendle is known to engage high-profile designers and architects in his extensive home renovations. In one...
-
November 24, 2020
Acne Studios, Stockholm Flagship Store Renovation
For many years. Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios has had its flagship store in the heart of Stockholm at Norrmalmstorg Square in a grand 19th-century...