SWISS CHALET RESIDENCE
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Extracting the potential of existing spaces with the unique light condition while calibrating the feeling of a client and swiss wood craftsmanship.
Weekend Home for a European Family
The project is located at Crans-Montana, in a region of Canton Valais, a French-speaking part of Switzerland. The existing chalet was built in the 1960s with an open panoramic view towards Rhone valley with Alpine mountains as a scenic background. The view presents ever-changing scenery associated with seasonal activities that are part of the residence life.
The owner has a long personal relationship with this place, wishing to have an attic space since his youth. The project's mission was calibrating his long wishes, family constitution and their extensive collection of modern and classic arts into one interior environment.
A Unique Condition of Natural Light
Our newly refurbished design intends to introduce the notion of natural light into the interior in a way we do not observe in contemporary homes. The master bedroom receives natural light in the late afternoon from below the house due to its high altitude and the undulating topography and landscape. The ceiling details are developed to capture such changing light levels, enabling the residents to sense the outdoor condition without observing the weather.
Night & Day of Dining Space
The dining space is located at the heart of life in the residence, where the existing structure confirms the dining room as a niche. The wood wall and ceiling gently wrap the space with a warm and cosy ambience, yet intimate when alone or with a few people, like Fogher Room in Locanda Cipriani in Venice. A large table is at the centre of the space and typically serves six people, extendable to twelve people. The wood screen filters the dining space from corridor activities and delivers a lively scene. The dining seats are oriented outward-looking during the day but reverse their focus inwards after sunset. The lighting in the corridor filtered by the screen becomes a large-scale lantern providing evening ambience to the table and people.
Wood Screen
The vertical member of the wood screen is turned at an angle, allowing a see-through effect on the corridor from the opposing space. Recognition of the depth of space creates softening realisation of a room behind. In parallel, the motion of people observed behind the screen resembles an early motion picture. In turn, it closes when occupying the dining niche, creating an intimate feeling.
Entrance Corridor
The entrance corridor initiates a primary axis of the residence with a view of the Alps and woods. Ancillary space branches out from it with spatially distinctive finishes creating a unique sensation. The closet space enhances its depth with the mirror. The guest bathroom is a cocoon of a soft wood environment. A grid screen door emotionally separates the living, dining, and kitchen spaces from the entrance area after sunset when the corridor becomes attention absorbing space.
Transition Space
Using a deep yellow-coloured veneer from an Italian manufacturer, we aimed to assemble a space that becomes a pronouncing space when turning the direction of our body. The coloured ambience erodes into the surrounding space, creating a warm and positive atmosphere. Using organised lines on the wood panels compose the defined space and interacts with the ambience that flows out from adjacent space, creating a unique calming effect.
Material Choices
Choices of materials, finishes and their transitions emerged from the discussion with the client. Their fascination and appreciation of beauty brought us the result of all creation—the precision of joinery work which went beyond the differences in nationality and method of doing.
Type:
Renovation - Residence
Location:
Crans-Montana, Canton Valais, Switzerland
Status:
Completed 2022
Data:
Floor Area: 120㎡
Design:
Yuichi Kodai, Claudia Maggi
Architect:
GBO Architects | www.gboarchitecture.ch
Carpenter:
Stahl und Traumfabrik | www.stahlundtraumfabrik.ch
Chimney:
16th Goryouzaburou Kanaya