House "Caluna", Chur
The "Caluna" project, situated directly below the vineyard on Calunaweg, comprises three residential units with surrounding gardens.
The roof, as the "fifth façade", formed a central design element. A gable roof was explicitly requested in order to respond to the local architectural typology and blend into the surroundings.
This required a solution-oriented dialogue between the architects, the clients and the local council right from the early stages of the construction process.
The genius loci — characterised by the plot, the hillside location, the vineyard, the views and the small-scale residential structures — formed the starting point for the design.
The volumetric arrangement responds to the building regulations, the hillside location and the neighbouring residential buildings, and, through its multi-folded roof form, references the typical local roofscape and small-scale character.
The clear design language and careful proportioning have resulted in a building with sculptural autonomy, which confidently unites the diverse conceptual and planning-law factors that posed a challenging influence on the design.
The roof surfaces, fitted with solar panels in strategic locations, ensure modern energy generation. On the hillside, the panels are not recognisable as such thanks to their colour-matching, but blend discreetly into the rest of the roofscape.
The façade consists of rough-sawn spruce elements, whose varying depths create a subtle relief and an ever-changing interplay of light and shadow. Carefully positioned windows frame the view of the vineyard, the surrounding countryside and, to the west, the city of Chur.
The openings give each flat a unique relationship with its surroundings. Interior and exterior spaces thus engage in a dialogue.
The three interlocking residential units were specifically tailored to their respective occupants. In general, most of the interior design details are consistent throughout the entire building.
However, the individual preferences of the three parties were taken into account through the choice of materials and colour schemes.
These distinct characteristics give the flats their own identity, creating diversity within a shared architectural framework whilst still forming a coherent whole.
