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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Transformation in Charrat, Switzerland by clavienrossier architectes hes/siaFebruary 11th, 2012 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: clavienrossier architectes hes/sia Situated away from a small village in the middle of the Swiss Alps (Canton of Valais), this 19th century house included an adjacent barn and had a too vast volume to be renewed in its totality. The existing building had no special qualities apart from the thick stone walls hidden by external plaster cement. The double-sided pitched roof was too low to allow us seeing the surrounding landscape from the garret floor. The existing windows were small; a large part of the volume was blind, half the building was being used as a barn. Consequently, we preferred to intervene directly on the existing building, walls and roof included.  Northeast facade at dusk
We kept what was useful for the project, cellars, first floor and half of the second floor of the old house, demolished the remaining elements and rebuilt according to new rules that was made especially for the project. We wanted to create an ensemble that could communicate with its environment, vineyards, stone walls and the Alps. This way of intervening was as well a response to the client, not to transform the totality of the existing building, cost-wise. We were able to reduce the existing 320 square meters down to 230 square meters.
 Northeast facade at dusk We wanted to create a strong contrast between the remaining part and the new structures. We chose to oppose clear geometric lines with existing rough old stone walls. Volumes of visible tinted concrete replaced the double-sided roof and the transformed area. We tried to create an ensemble, to establish a dialogue with the existing. That was the reason why we opted for a massive construction made in reinforced concrete, with a stone-like color. The oxides added in the concrete made the hue similar to a tuff, stone found in a very small quantity in the stone walls. Both of the new concrete volumes are sitting atop sixty centimetres width existing wall. By adding insulation and lining, you reach eighty centimetres tick! This thickness issue has motivated us to work on the wall depth and became as well a response to a formal desire. Thus, the idea of sloped walls were chosen to erase, at least visually, the thickness of wall; to be opened outwards while maintaining a solid appearance with the existing structure. The various-slopes faces enhance the highly varied game of the shadows throughout the day
 Detailed view of the facade from the street The openings in the existing part were small and vertical. We kept them to accentuate the contract with the newly created on top. We made large horizontal windows, thus becoming frames on the landscape. We chose to make a single front opening on each concrete facade. This desire of openness is also visible in plan. Interior walls are not touching the facades. This system allows us to experiment in each room a transversal views onto the landscape. There are no corridors. Circulation is made along the external wall, from room to room. The overall view continues beyond the windows, opening onto the surrounding landscape.
 Northeast facade with an old Barn Office description: Valéry Clavien graduated from the Fribourg School of Engineers and Architects in Switzerland. After his studies he worked at Carosio Architects in Zurich, then in Geneva at the office of Devanthéry and Lamunière. Graduated from Fribourg also, Nicolas Rossier worked in New York at kiss+zwigard architects, then in Berlin at Daniel Liebeskind office. After several missions spent with ICRC as an architect, he follows a Master’s degree in Architecture in Geneva where he is teaching at the present as a scientific assistant. With their diverse experiences, they join and start their own office in 2009 and are currently working on various projects in Switzerland, France and Niger.
 Northeast facade from the vineyards  View from the terrace  View from the south  Southwest facade from the vineyards  Detail of the Southeast facade  Northeast facade from the street  Northeast facade from the street  A house in the vineyards  Opening in existing wall  Circulation along the external walls
Tags: Charrat, Switzerland Category: House |
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