Article source: Mario Botta Architetti

The new restaurant on the top of Monte Generoso graces the spot where an early twentiethcentury hotel once stood. The location is extraordinary: a small plateau overlooking the precipice on the north side of the mountain, characterised by a mighty rock with a steep 300- 400 metre drop. The impressive rock formation was the deciding factor for creating the “stone flower” – an octagonal building with individual “petals”. On the east front this circular crown provides the space for an observation deck that follows the ridge of the mountain.

Image Courtesy © Enrico Cano

• Architects: Mario Botta Architetti
• Project: Restaurant “Fiore di pietra” (stone flower)
• Location: Monte Generoso, Switzerland
• Photography: Enrico Cano
• Client: Ferrovia Monte Generoso SA
• Civil Engineering: Studio d’Ingegneria Luigi Brenni
• Useful area: 2500 m² (of which 2140 m² new + 360 m² existing)
• Volume: 9’200 m³ (of which 8’000 m³ new + 1’200 m³ existing)
• Project: 2013
• Construction: 2015-2017

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