This sustainable holiday home is literally concealed in the mountain, next to Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals in Switzerland. The villa is designed by SeARCH i.c.w. Christian Müller. Not only its architecture but also the interior of the house is unique with a mix of antiques, modern classics and contemporary Dutch design. The house is for public rent as well.
Villa Vals Holiday home, Vals, CH, ’05-’09.
Shouldn’t it be possible to conceal a house in an Alpine slope while still exploiting the wonderful views and allowing light to enter the building?Surprised that it was permissible to construct a pair of dwellings so close to the world famous thermal baths of Vals, the client seized the opportunity to develop the site, without disturbing the bath’s expansive views. The introduction of a central patio into the steep incline creates a large façade with considerable potential for window openings. The viewing angle from the building is slightly inclined, giving an even more dramatic view of the strikingly beautiful mountains on the opposite side of the narrow valley.
The surrounding landscape is virtually untouched since the entrance is via an old Graubünder barn and an underground tunnel.
The compact setup of the bedrooms upstairs creates unexpected spatial effects with bunk beds, elevated bathrooms and raised podiums with king-size beds.
Via: SeARCH
Pictures: Iwan Baan
