Architecture

Mathon lies in the heart of the Beverin Nature Park, at around 1,520 m above sea level and surrounded by wild, unique landscape – a setting that places special demands on architecture. The aim was a “guesthouse” that is, in every detail, a house for guests: sensitively placed in its surroundings and at the same time functional and of high design quality.

The mountain lodge was built in 2015 as “Pensiun Laresch” and accommodates up to 22 guests in 6 rooms and a 3.5-room apartment. The building was deliberately developed from the inside out: corridors and staircases were reduced to a minimum so that as much area as possible could be used as living space. The house is also oriented so that every room has a view of the Alps. Instead of a basement, there is a covered outdoor space in the backfill area of the slope, combined with the necessary retaining wall; the lodge stands directly on the existing foundation slab.

Planning began in July 2012, construction started in July 2014; after a building period of 13 months, occupation followed in June 2015. The remote high-altitude location, limited access and the short building season in the mountain region made the project logistically demanding – from material delivery to construction.

Characteristic is the roughly half-metre-thick masonry, which needs no additional thermal insulation and, together with regionally chosen, precisely placed materials such as wood and clay, creates a pleasant indoor climate and a sustainable building approach. Asymmetrically deep window reveals are set into the natural lime façade, making the façade appear anew depending on the light – a modern, well-proportioned image that contrasts with the soft lines of the mountain landscape.

The mountain lodge is regarded as a showcase project for ecological, energy-efficient hotel building and as a model for building ecology: alongside the effective building envelope, sustainable energy from ground probes and a photovoltaic system, the natural building materials from Haga also contribute. Only natural, predominantly regional materials such as wood, stone, lime and clay were used; indoors, larch wood and a plaster of pure lime and clay create a pleasant climate. The material concept is completed by bathrooms in natural stone and entirely glue-free joinery. Thanks to its simple, clear form, the building blends harmoniously into the mountain world of the Beverin Nature Park.

Building services are also deliberately reduced: they are limited to ground probes and a heat pump, combined with a photovoltaic system integrated into the roof surface. Comfort ventilation and excessive electrical installation were consciously omitted.

Sustainability was central from the start: electricity is produced on the lodge’s own roof, many products come from the region, and guests sleep in Swiss stone pine beds.

Since construction, no major renovations have been carried out, only minor maintenance. Thanks to careful use and care, the mountain lodge still presents itself in excellent condition today.