Holiday home Chasa Favgia

Architect Christof Rösch has trans­formed a cen­turies-old barn on the out­skirts of the mountain village of Vnà in the Lower Engadine into a three-storey holiday home. The outer shell has remained vir­tually unch­anged, whilst inside a bright, spa­cious living area has been created. On each of the two levels there is a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, with the central living area – com­plete with a fire­place and kitchen – situated between them. Thanks to the hillside location, every floor opens out onto an unob­s­tructed mountain pan­orama that is dra­matic depending on the weather.

Light floods gene­rously into the interior through the tra­di­tio­nally orna­mented façade ele­ments. These were once used to ven­tilate the hay and can be opened or tem­po­r­arily removed. Behind the existing façade, a three-storey internal glass skin has been inserted which – depending on the con­dition of the external ele­ments – directs fil­tered or direct light into the rooms and frames the view of the land­scape. Two small roof windows provide addi­tional light for the bathroom and sleeping area on the upper floor. The existing structure has been largely pre­served and sup­ple­mented with local timber and lime only where necessary. Depending on the time of day and the weather, the atmo­sphere inside the house thus changes – at times calm and subdued, at others open and flooded with light.

Another striking inno­vation is the free­standing north-facing wall, which breaks away from the slope. Narrow spaces are created between the old and new struc­tures, serving as storage areas and small internal bal­conies.

Chasa Favgia, situated in Vnà at an altitude of 1,630 metres, is a haven of tran­quillity. Hiking trails lead straight from the house into the moun­tains and valleys of the Lower Engadine. About an hour’s walk away lies the Hof Zuort, a Swiss His­toric Hotel serving excellent Engadine cuisine. You can reach Scuol – home to the Bogn Engi­adina Scuol – or the his­toric village of Sent, which is popular with both skiers and Gia­co­metti fans, either on foot or by the well-fre­quented PostBus.

What to do

Hiking straight from the house, panoramic trails with views of the Inn Valley and the Swiss National Park, cycling on nature trails and alpine routes, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing in the valley, swimming and sauna at the Bogn Engiadina Scuol, day trips in the Lower Engadine and to Samnaun, regional cuisine in local inns, small cultural events in the villages

Why we like this house

An archaic building structure is brought to life spatially by a new inner layer of glass, appearing pared-back yet surprisingly multi-layered.

This house is great for

Couples or families seeking peace and seclusion. Thanks to the bedrooms on the upper and lower floors, two couples or small families can also find well-spaced private retreats. In total, there are two double beds and a spacious bunk bed. A cot, high chair and child safety gates are provided.

Sustainability

Conversion of an existing barn without further soil sealing, reuse of building materials, use of regional and non-industrial materials, internal insulation with rammed hemp-lime and lime plasters made from dolomite lime and sand from the nearby River Inn. Heating system comprising an air-source heat pump, photovoltaic panels and a log-burning stove (low-emission and CO₂-reduced).

Details

Availability calendar

The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with white background the accommodation is still available. On days with dark gray background the accommodation is not available.

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