## Foster + Partners’ Gstaad House: A Sinuous Timber Showcase
The vibrant spirit of Gstaad, Switzerland, is reflected in the architectural marvel of Foster + Partners’ Gstaad House. This stunning showroom, nestled into a valley, is a testament to the studio’s commitment to crafting unique and captivating environments.
The building’s design draws inspiration from the landscape’s contours, a harmonious blend of undulating mountains and winding roads. The facade, crafted from locally sourced larch wood, offers a mesmerizing visual experience. The roof, a patchwork of timber balustrades, provides a seamless and expansive backdrop, allowing for seamless transitions between programs.
The ground floor, an exhibition space, is a breathtaking panorama of the valley. A raised level, boasting a stunning view of the surrounding landscape, provides a panoramic perspective. This space is designed to host a series of public events, including double-height glazing that can be opened up to the adjacent outdoor space.
The upper floors, while offering private gallery spaces, are also set to offer private events. A custom-designed, climate-controlled space, incorporating bespoke storage solutions, is situated on the top floor. This space provides a unique opportunity for showcasing collections in a tailored and climate-controlled environment.
The studio’s architectural prowess is evident in its sophisticated design. The building’s exterior is clad in locally sourced larch wood, creating a visually rich and natural aesthetic. The roof, a patchwork of timber balustrades, offers a seamless and expansive surface. The grounding of the building is achieved through a ramp that winds up from its base to provide circulation between the programmes for both cars and pedestrians.
The Gstaad House is more than just a building; it’s a living, breathing testament to the power of architecture and the beauty of nature. It is a place where creativity and innovation converge, creating spaces that are both visually stunning and thoughtfully designed.
British studio Foster + Partners has designed a sinuous timber showroom to mimic the “contours of the landscape” in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Set to be nestled into a valley, Gstaad House will encompass three floors of gallery and auction space, along with a private members’ club on its top floor and a subterranean level.
Foster + Partners designed the structure with a ramp that will wind up from its base to provide circulation between the programmes for both cars and pedestrians.
”The landmark building is nestled within a valley and responds to the unique contours of the landscape,” the studio said.
“The architectural form reflects the undulating mountains and winding roads, with a gently sloping facade, flat roof, and an integrated ramp for cars and pedestrians that wraps around the building.”
Topped with a rounded, flat roof, the building’s exterior will be cloaked entirely in larch wood used to create rhythmic screens interspersed with glazing.
At each level, matching timber balustrades will enclose the ramp to create external terraces overlooking the surrounding valley.
“Our design generates a spectacular arrival experience, as the building comes into view from the road,” senior partner at Foster + Partners Kirsten Scott said.
“Its distinctive facade is made from local larch and diffuses natural light into the spaces above ground, while providing panoramic views of the valley.”
At ground level, an exhibition space designed to host a series of public events will include double-height glazing that can be opened up to the adjacent outdoor space. Renders of the space also reveal a raised level that will overlook the ground floor area.
The upper floors of Gstaad House are set to offer private gallery spaces where collections can be showcased in a “tailored and climate-controlled environment”.
Above this, the top floor will contain a private members club, which will be flanked by a wraparound roof deck. A dining room and kitchen will also be held on the top floor for private events.
A 3,000-square-metre flexible space will be built in a subterranean level and will include “bespoke storage spaces” for the collections.
Elsewhere, the studio has completed a revamp of the Carrington Training Complex for Manchester United and designed a luxury retail complex designed to “breathe new life into Istanbul’s waterfront”.
The visualisations are courtesy of Foster + Partners.
British studio Foster + Partners has designed a sinuous timber showroom to mimic the “contours of the landscape” in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Set to be nestled into a valley, Gstaad House will encompass three floors of gallery and auction space, along with a private members’ club on its top floor and a subterranean level.
Foster + Partners designed the structure with a ramp that will wind up from its base to provide circulation between the programmes for both cars and pedestrians.
“The landmark building is nestled within a valley and responds to the unique contours of the landscape,” the studio said.
“The architectural form reflects the undulating mountains and winding roads, with a gently sloping facade, flat roof, and an integrated ramp for cars and pedestrians that wraps around the building.”
Topped with a rounded, flat roof, the building’s exterior will be cloaked entirely in larch wood used to create rhythmic screens interspersed with glazing.
At each level, matching timber balustrades will enclose the ramp to create external terraces overlooking the surrounding valley.
“Our design generates a spectacular arrival experience, as the building comes into view from the road,” senior partner at Foster + Partners Kirsten Scott said.
“Its distinctive facade is made from local larch and diffuses natural light into the spaces above ground, while providing panoramic views of the valley.”
At ground level, an exhibition space designed to host a series of public events will include double-height glazing that can be opened up to the adjacent outdoor space. Renders of the space also reveal a raised level that will overlook the ground floor area.
The upper floors of Gstaad House are set to offer private gallery spaces where collections can be showcased in a “tailored and climate-controlled environment”.
Above this, the top floor will contain a private members club, which will be flanked by a wraparound roof deck. A dining room and kitchen will also be held on the top floor for private events.
A 3,000-square-metre flexible space will be built in a subterranean level and will include “bespoke storage spaces” for the collections.
Elsewhere, the studio has completed a revamp of the Carrington Training Complex for Manchester United and designed a luxury retail complex designed to “breathe new life into Istanbul’s waterfront”.
The visualisations are courtesy of Foster + Partners.
