Simplicity
We are not building a copy of the past here. It is possible to respect heritage while helping it evolve. Using local materials guarantees this continuity. At a time when false vintage is invading the villages of the Canton of Valais, the renovation of this “mayen” makes wood the clear choice of material to protect the insulation. In excellent condition, the old part consists of magnificent timbers with a cross-section of between 50 and 60 cm, grouted with natural foam. It is left in the original state, bearing witness to the fact that it is possible to build using solid wood.

The new wood endeavours to reflect the emotion that the traditional timbers exude through their imperfections, their patina and their materiality. Laid in an alternating, staggered design, planks of solid, 27 mm thick larch, left in a natural, freshly-sawn state, bear a close resemblance to the original. Similar planks are used for internal surfaces and partition walls.

Why do we do things one way and not another? What is the necessary minimum to satisfy the conditions of comfort and use for a home designed for two parents and four children with the possibility of welcoming grandparents too?

This transformation provides an answer: the massive slab between the floors is made of nailed wood with no layer of sound insulation, screed or wear layers, which are unnecessary when a single family occupies both floors. This intervention reduces construction to its simplest expression, a roof for the inhabitants.