A “brutalist” building topped with a parking area is transformed into a residential house. The architecture firm Associatiexcavates, manipulates, recycles, and metamorphoses the volume and materials, presenting a work of architectural excellence where the “structure” and materiality remain visible. The locality of Savièse enjoys a long village history that has been evolving over the years. Some vernacular buildings still survive. These traditional houses once housed, and in some cases still house, soapstone stoves, functional and decorative elements. They bear the date, initials, and coats of arms of their owners. This stone, prized for its heat-retaining properties, came from the valley across, the Val de Bagnes.
détail réfractaire is the title given to three sculptures in Évolène stone resting, lying, or perching within this residence. They evoke the memory of old stoves through their provenance and symbolize the warmth of these traditional hearths. The sculptural forms, organic and sometimes futuristic, draw inspiration from the karst formations of the Zanfleuron plateau, an emblematic geomorphological site of the region. These sculptures act as interventions, bringing the stone into the home as a decorative element – like these Évolène stoves or fragments of karst placed in gardens. They re-anchor the house within a dual history: that of contemporary architecture and that of traditional materials and the local landscape. This project reflects a profound connection between contemporary architecture and local tradition, prompting reflection on the sustainable use of resources and the finiteness of the materials around us. It invites the observer to consider the landscape and natural elements as sufficient resources, where the old and the new converge harmoniously.
on the wall: détail réfractaire (flanc), 2024, Evolène stone (prasinite), 55 × 35.5 × 16.5 cm
on the floor: détail réfractaire (ruissellement), 2024, Evolène stone (prasinite), 67 × 32 × 15.5 cm
on pillar: détail réfractaire (traverse), 2024, Evolène stone (prasinite), 20 × 15 × 11.5 cm
Photos: Claire Alhanko – Eiiws & Lydia Genecand
