Built on Legacy

What considerations guide you when building in the mountains — and in St. Moritz in particular?

The traditional architecture of the Engadin Valley — dating from the Middle Ages — with its generous scale, big roofs and splayed windows is unique in the world. It has inspired a modern generation of architects — Le Corbusier for example — to create a new language. His chapel at Ronchamp could not, in my opinion, have happened without the precedent of the Engadin alpine architecture, which he is known to have visited.

The various projects in St. Moritz that I have had the privilege of working on are similarly respectful of their place, yet strive for a certain timelessness. For instance, Chesa Futura is a combination of modern technology and traditional crafts. It has aged well. The larch shingles on the façade continue a local building tradition. The parts of the façade exposed to light and rain have acquired a dark patina, which blends with the background rock of the mountains, while the underside still maintains the original golden hue.

Similarly, the old Eispavillon at Kulm Park had been abandoned for many decades, and there was a great opportunity to revitalise the building and this part of the town by bringing it back to life. We wanted to bring the old and the new together, so that the existing building and the new pavilions would form a new social focal point. Designed in the spirit of a mini-stadium, it has become the focus of the annual calendar of sporting and cultural events. The restaurant and lounge add a new dimension to the park experience — in the winters, parents can enjoy a leisurely coffee at the bar while their children skate on the rink, and the terraces form the perfect vantage point during events in the summers. Kulm Park has become a new social heart for St. Moritz.

While refurbishing the existing building, we ensured that the old was respected and new additions, though contemporary in nature, continue the same historic essence of the building. The new pavilion — also made from timber — defines the urban perimeter and brings new life to the periphery of the site. The copper edge along the curved profile of the new pavilion is also an example of how traditional methods can often provide the best solution to complex computer-generated geometries.

Most recently, our interventions at the Kulm Hotel build on 165 years of extraordinary heritage. The masterplan is a celebration of the hotel’s pioneering spirit, which blends tradition, local craftsmanship and contemporary innovation to provide an unparalleled experience for guests. A new entry sequence and retail offering draw life towards the hotel, reconnecting the building and its grounds with the Via Maistra.

Is there a specific moment or scene from your time working in St. Moritz that, for you, captures the essence of this place?

Often when I am cross-country skiing, I am struck by the scale and grandeur of nature and the diverse historical architecture of the Engadin Valley villages and towns.

How do you navigate between the poles of tradition and modernity in your work? And how do you fill these poles with meaning?

There is a richness and diversity to those cities where buildings of different periods, styles and materials have grown up alongside each other. I have always argued in favour of reuse and renewal of historical buildings, which can be given a new lease of life through sensitive interventions. The aim is not to show off the contemporary addition, but rather to facilitate access, to allow more people to use and appreciate the old building in a way that would not have been possible previously. In that sense, they are the highest form of recognition, because they are precisely about honouring and preserving the value of a building, and ensuring it is viable and accessible for future generations. Recycling an existing building rather than starting afresh is the ultimate in sustainability. 

How does the idea of legacy influence your design proposals?

I leave questions of legacy to the historians.

From your perspective, what constitutes a great hotel?

A sense of place and history, a welcoming warmth, outstanding service and the ability to make every guest feel special. All of which come together at the Kulm Hotel.

And, finally: What makes a truly great ski room stand out?

A strong focus on the sport and comfort, all tied together by the history and traditions of the place, complemented with the warmth of local materials.

This story first appeared in the book “Begegnungen/Encounters”, published by Kulm Hotel St. Moritz.

Photography: Yukio Futagawa