mountain hut Briula, ValbellaHide and seek in the
mountains
There are not many places like this. The project plays on the border between inside and outside, old and new, visible and invisible. The picturesque beauty of rural life is paired with modern comfort and the wide view of the Lenzerheide heath.
The alpine hut Briula is situated overlooking the municipality of Valbella on a hill about 1,800 metres above sea level. The original facility consists of a cowshed with a living area and hayloft above, as well as an attached shed with two untouched servants' chambers.
The residential section was once used by Hotel Schweizerhof in Lenzerheide, founded in 1906, as a venue for day trips with guests from all over the world, who came to enjoy the fresh mountain air and the wonderful view of the Julier pass and the lake Heidsee.
The building’s exterior remained untouched by the renovation and expansion works so as not to disturb the harmonious location and at the same time not to give prominence to the new interior. Then came the idea to extend the living space inwards, opening up to the landscape through a new gateway to the south, thus exposing the interior to the exterior space.
«The consistent use of timber enabled the construction of the building to take place through collaboration between family and friends.»
– Christoph Cavigelli
the house in the stable
The new structure with its geometric form is striking and yet distinct from the stable, and creates a harmonious barrier between hall and sculpture. The interior arrangement of the rooms makes use of two orthogonal lines of sight, which combine the low ceiling height with a generous amount of space.
The modern furnishing of the Maiensäss includes two large bedrooms, a smaller bedroom with two bunk beds, and a spacious dining area with an open kitchen and a small sitting area, which is characterised by the new soapstone stove.
publications
The interior becomes the exterior. The tall sliding doors in the façade offer a spectacular view from the interior into the vast mountain landscape.
A ballet of light. The sunlight filters through the wooden structure with open plank formwork into the space in between, constantly drawing new traces of light onto the timber floor and the slake lime façade of the new building.
A sudden deluge of light. When the gate is open, the two-story dining room offers up a majestic view of the Oberhalbstein.
Old and new become one. The old truss of the hay barn remained untouched and now separates the new building.
The sculpture in the stable. The new structure with its geometric form is striking and yet distinct from the stable, and creates a harmonious barrier between the hay barn and the cube.
Old-fashioned heating. The soapstone stove radiates warmth through the adjacent dining room with its gallery and into the three bedrooms on the upper floor.
| project information |
|---|
| project renovation mountain hut |
| construction start 2018 |
| construction end 2019 |
| scope architecture, interior design, creative management |
| project genre |
|---|
| construction management Christian Parpan |
| heating and sanitary J. Simeon |
| engineer Toni Cavigelli |
| carpenter Gebrüder Möhr AG |
| reclaimed wood furniture manum, Ralph Steiner |
| lighting Konigs |
| photos Bruno Helbling |
project manager
Christoph Cavigelli
architect
christoph@cavigelli.com
T 044 480 20 02