Location | Furkastrasse 106, Bitsch VS |
Client | RAIFFEISENBANK ALETSCH |
Commission | study commission on invitation 2002 |
Planning | 2003 |
Construction | 2003–2004 |
Architects | Graber & Steiger Architekten, Project Architect: Urs Schmid |
Consultants | Construciton management: Marcel Escher, Structural engineer: Stefan Weder, Landscape architect: Stefan Koepfli, Artists: Sybilla Walpen + Kotscha Reist |
Photographer | Graber & Steiger Architekten |
The residential and commercial building develops out of a focused observation of the direct vicinity, the specific geometry and topography of the property, the morphology of the Bitsch community, and also the wide-open perspective of the landscape and cultural characteristics of the Rhône valley. The building presents itself as a point building that is inserted into the village structure and refers, with its crystalline form, to the Alpine-dominated landscape. Inside, a multi-winged spatial figure unfolds, thereby providing daylight to the monolithic building, while also making contextual references. The choice of the surfaces plastered with lime putty revives a local building tradition.
The current issue 13/2022 of TEC21 introduces the mixed-use conversion on Denkmalstrasse in Lucerne. Among others, the report highlights how the specific concept of the building achieves a lofty spatial openness despite a highly dense urban context and how the simple and raw spaces invite to a playful appropriation for living and working. Minimalism as an offer!