Alpine Architecture: 8 Magical Modern Lodgings in the Alps

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For many, the Alps belong to the imagination, the stuff of storybook legend — a magical land defined by natural beauty and quaint living. At the center of this fantasy is the region’s folk architecture, its bucolic cottages, rugged mountain huts and timeless alpine villages. There is truth to these visions. Yet this romance does not tell the whole story. There is more to life, and architecture, in the Alps.

Those who live in the Alps are not stuck in time. Moreover, the mountain range, which sprawls into several nations, is home to many distinct cultures, and, as a result, many heterogeneous architectural styles. The following projects balance many interests, by moving architecture forward and providing their clients with modern conveniences, all while making structures practical to their environment and respectful of local traditions. The architects behind these projects not only succeed in meeting this complex criteria, but they manage to enhance the fantasy surrounding life in the Alps.

The buildings on this list range from holiday homes to full-time residences to temporary lodging for mountaineers. Yet they are all united in their modern vision as well as the way they are carefully integrated with their surrounding environment. The projects are all aimed at redefining alpine architecture, and recontextualizing the natural landscape, while still allowing the Alps to be the star of the show.

gaudin house, les grillesses by Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes, Hérens, Switzerland

Approaching the Gaudin House from behind, you might think it is some storied old home, a legacy of simpler times — and you would be correct. The house was originally constructed as a barn more than a hundred years ago, and retains its original stone exterior. Yet Gaudin House is so much more than that. The building was recently transformed into a comfortable holiday home, prominently featuring a window which spans the entire structure, offering a stunning view of the Swiss landscape.

boisset house, le biolley, transformation by Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes, Orsières, Switzerland

For the Boisset House, Savioz Fabrizzi Architectes once again converted a historic barn into a modern home. By preserving the open spaces and oversized entrance on the lower floor — which was originally reserved for cattle — the architect was able to create light and airy interiors which open onto beautiful mountain vistas.

Hut near Lac de Joux by Kunik de Morsier Architectes, L’Abbaye, Switzerland

Although the Hut near Lac de Joux is an entirely new structure, it appears timeless thanks to its traditional larch siding. Yet the conventional design is broken up by many large windows, which admit light into the house’s contemporary interior. The architects behind the project were chiefly concerned with making the hut integrated with its surrounding environment, an effect achieved through the building’s porous design and the project’s use of natural building materials.

Schudel House by OOS, Planign, Feldis/Veudeln, Tomils, Switzerland

The Schudel House also makes a nod towards traditional mountain cabins with its timber siding, but marks a clear departure from conventional form. The architects designed the home as a sculpture, whittling away at traditional domestic forms until they had created something elegant and unique. The project makes use of negative space to make room for a covered porch overlooking the landscape below.

House at Mill Creekby Pedevilla Architects, Sand in Taufers, Italy

The House at Mill Creek is as interesting to look at as it is to look out of. Coated in white plaster made from local materials, the house stands out starkly from its surroundings, while irregularly placed windows stare out like great eyes in every direction. The bright exterior foreshadows the house’s warm interior, while the windows, in turn, provide remarkable views of the surrounding mountains for those inside.

Mountain Cabin in Laternser Valley by Marte.Marte Architects, Laterns, Austria

Rather than trying to replicate local architecture or use traditional materials, this cabin conforms to its environment by becoming part of the landscape, jutting out of the ground like an extension to the mountain itself. Conceived of as a tower fortress, the cabin’s ultimate design is distinctly modern, both in its form and the prominent use of exposed concrete. The architects’ minimalist approach, however, allows the building to blend in with its surroundings and preserve the site’s timeless beauty.

Villa Vals by SeARCH, Vals, Switzerland

The Villa Vals takes the idea of integration with the landscape one step further. Faced with stringent building codes, the architects from SeARCH decided the least obtrusive design for a modern home would be a house built into the mountain. The result is a structure which completely defies tradition, while not drawing attention away from the traditional architecture around it. The home’s circular entrance hides the structure from most angles, while offering magnificent views through the house’s glass walls.

Alpine Shelter Skuta by OFIS Architects and Rieder Smart Elements, Slovenia

The Alpine Shelter Skuta is simultaneously the most innovative and the most traditional project on this list. The structure belongs to a long tradition of alpine cabins, and meets the most basic definition of a shelter. Yet the project contributed to this tradition using modern forms, materials and modes of production. Although modest in size and program, this mountain cabin was constructed as an experiment in extreme architecture.

The modular structure was constructed off-site out of materials chosen to withstand the extreme climate it would occupy. The modules could then be transported individually and assembled on-site. The small shelter remains unobtrusive while affording incredible views of the Slovenian Alps. In its own way, the project demonstrates how modern practices can be used to improve lives, without disturbing the very things that make life worth living.

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