Restoration of the Quilucru Chalet in the Swiss Alps. A continuum between historicity and contemporary architectural language

The idyllic village of Zeneggen in Switzerland is situated at more than 1450 meters in the middle of the Alps of Canton Valais. Typical Swiss chalets, some over 100 years old, characterize the village and combine to form a tranquil village with small picturesque squares and panoramic views. At the center of this microcosm is the chalet Quilucru

The historic Quilucru chalet undergoing renovation has already been rebuilt several times over the years. In the course of the renovation, the attention of the ATELIER BRANDAU CICCARDINI Architekten team, which oversaw the project, was focused on the one hand upon respectful management of the building's historicity, but also on an effective combination of the latter with contemporary architectural language

In this way it was possible to combine new and old components into a harmonious unit and give the Quilucru chalet a fresh but natural look. The playful use of colors and materials helps make the existing and new components clearly legible. Even the new window openings are precisely set and allow the beautiful view to become part of the chalet. The design focus was on ecology and sustainability pursued through the use of natural materials such as clay plaster, casein clay, stucco, and oiled wood siding

Inside the house, functional needs and living comfort could be optimized with some changes in the distribution on the various levels of the house. A new internal staircase connects the two floors, and two additional rooms and a large bathroom are built on the ground floor. The light-flooded living area was completed with a new kitchen and a stove that can heat the entire chalet using an effective heat conduction system