transition rappersbühl

the rappersbühl ensemble works with the layers of height, with the nature, the positioning and the intermediate spaces. It’s integrated into the landscape and becomes part of it. the pitched roofs, one with shingles, the other covered by green, become part of the landscape, mark the architecture and, together with the historic trees, give identity to the place. the sloping, green, folding roof, which opens up towards the courtyard, is integrated into the ensemble like a natural flower meadow. the landscape grows over it and forms a natural unit. an integration, a work with nature and materiality. the materiality of the new ensemble comes from the site itself: on the one hand the wood from the surrounding forests, the masonry stones from the site, the coloured concrete based on the clay found, with its formwork brushed from wooden planks, and also the plaster of the interior, the clay, are found in the earth of the excavation. the excavated material is brought back to the buildings integrated in the height layers and planted. a work with the site. when arriving at rappersbühl, the first thing recognisable is the avenue of trees that frames the view. a first volume, a wooden construction building with wooden tiles leads the view over the meadows and the slope of the built landscape. below – in the morphology – the 5 holiday flats. above, the meeting room with fireplace and the builder’s flat. the barn, the fountain, the sauna and the bakery are positioned at a certain distance, forming a courtyard situation with the old trees and completing the site. the project is intended to be a place of well-being and reflects a feeling that characterises the outside space: cultivated simplicity and closeness to nature, light, warmth, timelessness and a sense of specialness. the most conspicuous and largest building, due to the large number of animals, is the stadel. here the wooden construction rests on a concrete base, lets the cows run and works with vertical details and elements that give rhythm to the façade and tie in with traditional details interpreting them in a contemporary way. in the main building, a coloured concrete band with local accents forms the contour of the architecture, which rests on the façades, pine partitions, felled and processed from the company’s rappersbühl forest. this works with overhangs and recesses of the vertical elements, with open and closed surfaces and coloured details such as oversized downpipes. the band bends at the end, becomes the client’s shelter and is made entirely by wood. inside, it works with natural light, special atmospheres and spatial situations, clearing the materials wood and clay create special transitions. the wood comes from the local forest. spruce, soaped white, was used for every wall and furniture. special details, painted in the local red colour, refine and sharpen them. together with the owners, the house was created in order to become one thing with the nature, integrating historic trees into the architecture, working with materiality and captureing the strength of the place.

“not in a place shall you build, but the place shall you build.”