Vallée de Joux is a remote area of northern Switzerland, known for its natural beauty with harsh temperatures in winter and pleasant summers. The design brief called for a new building between an existing hospital and a new school gymnasium, result of a recent competition. 

The steep topography reduced the usable area, as we tried to have the building connect the geometries of the two neighbours. 

The volume forms a continuous built front, and defines a new civic space at the heart of the settlement. The intervention responds to the landscape and built context through a restrained interpretation of local vernacular principles for materiality, proportions, and façade design.

My responsibilities covered the entire design process, developed under the direction of the studio principal. The work was carried out individually over eight weeks, from early concept definition to final architectural layout and delivery. 

Rooms are organised into two functional wings that can operate together or independently according to care requirements. Circulation is structured around a central nursing station to optimise supervision and workflow. Service areas are distributed into two compact cores, each incorporating a staircase accessible from both sides to satisfy fire protection standards and simplify maintenance routes.

The structure is in laminated timber with an envelope finished in wood shingles, a direct reference to traditional construction methods in the region. The projecting offsets are integral to the façade composition, providing solar protection, directing water away from the walls, and concealing the roller shutters.