This magnificent building, dating from the 1950s, is located in downtown Sierre, on a small triangular plot held by two streets to the southeast and southwest and a wooded plot on the north side. The period building has one terrace per apartment, thus creating the gaps that characterize it. Each terrace offers a different view and exposure, avoiding the vis-à-vis and possible nuisances.

Its location and visibility, as well as its great architectural qualities, have fostered the desire to preserve such a valuable building. A small building, initially the home of a large family housing several generations under the same roof, it has gradually evolved into a rental building. 

Having undergone several transformations over the years, including a major one in the 1980s, the various original coatings have mostly been covered or changed. The intention of the project was to renovate without distorting the original building. The choice was for exterior façade insulation. A differentiated materialization is used to preserve the interpretation of the original building: the existing frames are covered with a very fine plaster, the rest of the building is covered with an old-fashioned plaster. Three shades of blue are applied to the facades, offering a different reading of each volume and reacting to light in an evolutionary way according to the course of the sun.

The entrance door and its stained glass window have been restored. The stairwell, on the other hand, has been repainted in warm tones. The steps of the stairs, as well as the handrail, have been sandblasted. The apartments have undergone typological changes with the aim of maximising the use of available space. The woodwork has been restored, keeping the character of the apartments, all the kitchens, bathrooms and terraces have been renovated with light tones.

In an effort to enhance the property and given the size of the plot, which could not offer any expansion, a small apartment was created on the lower ground floor, densifying the building as much as possible.

The building has been redesigned to become low-tech in terms of technical facilities. With regard to heating, a heat pump has been installed to replace the existing gas boiler, the radiators have been maintained. A simple flow is proposed for ventilation: air is supplied through the new windows and extracted through the bathrooms. The kitchens are all equipped with fan hoods with activated carbon.

More than half a century after its construction, work was needed. The renovation was ethically and ecologically obvious for this project. Unfortunately, we very often witness the demolition of built heritage rather than the restoration of such objects. To cope with the current climate crisis and minimize our footprint, it is imperative to rethink our philosophy regarding our vision of construction.