swiss chalet

This remarkable six-level home is a lesson in how to soften modern architecture with an intimate and welcoming interior

Spanning six storeys, this masterpiece of architecture has a rustic aesthetic entirely in harmony with its Alpine surroundings.

Perched high above the Engadine valley in the Swiss Alps, this chalet is a stunning example of modern architecture at one with its surroundings. Key to the project’s success was ensuring that the building met with strict private housing regulations that permit only a small amount of above-ground construction. These restrictions ultimately dictated the entire character of the property, imbuing it with an extraordinary layout over the incline of the mountain. Built over six levels, the master bedroom, sitting room and study are above ground, while the kitchen, dining area, guest rooms, swimming pool and wellness centre are below.

Problem solving

For Rome-based architects, Lazzarini Pickering, respecting the local architectural style was as important as adhering to the owners’ unique vision. ‘We managed to use the restrictive building regulations by turning them into architectural solutions, and the whole project is a creative and contemporary reinterpretation of local traditional architecture,’ explains Carl Pickering.

The chalet has a substantial underground footprint and the architects worked hard to create a feeling of intimacy, with masonry vaults and skylights letting as much natural light through as possible. ‘The idea was to design the spaces below ground level so that they would not feel like an underground bunker,’ says Claudio Lazzarini.

Above ground, the typical Swiss chalet timber construction has been reinterpreted using glass instead of wood for the walls between some structural pillars. The extensive glazing gives the house a connective feel internally, as well as masses

of exposure to the winter wonderland found in this beautiful area on the southern side of the Swiss Alps. ‘When you live in a place like this with so many incredible views, you risk becoming immune to them,’ says Carl, ‘so framing a specific part of a view makes it special and avoids this happening.’ An overhanging roof along the triple-glazed glass walls protects the living areas from intense sunlight during the summer, but at the same time allows for the maximum amount of light to enter the chalet during the winter months.

Outside the box

Michela Curetti, who had worked with the owners on three previous properties over the course of 15 years, was enlisted to provide the interior design. ‘I wanted to soften the rigours of the contemporary lines with fabric – tartans, wool and patterns,’ she explains. ‘The aim was to create a welcoming feeling of warmth and comfort. For me, a Swiss chalet in the Alps should be a cosy and traditional environment to share with friends and family.

‘The architectural materials are what you would normally find in the mountains, yet less rustic,’ Michela elaborates. ‘The environment, the box, was already created by the architects. My idea was to make the rigid, hard lines softer, more liveable with and cosy. The materials and colours for the interior scheme were chosen to have a local imprint that was personal to the location.’

Much of the furniture was designed by Michela herself, using local wood and craftsmen. The chalet combines elements that are both natural and intimate: above ground the sense is of living within the forest, while the underground space, with its pool and relaxation areas, provides snug intimacy.