Ensemble Sut Vitg

Architects: Gion A. Caminada     Photography: Lucia Degonda     Construction Period:  1994-1999     Location:  Vrin, Switzerland

Since the beginning of his work in the village of Vrin, Gion A. Caminada has been intensively involved in the construction of stables and barns. In most cases, these are architectural works for small farms, which require a holistic view. The basis for this work is an analysis from the year 1990, which Gion A. Caminada had worked out together with the department for preservation of monuments. The separation of residential and commercial buildings was recognized as a typical feature for the village of Vrin. The complex and intertwined ownerships were recognized as difficulties, and an amelioration was proposed. This study includes not only an inventory of economic buildings but also proposals for constructions within the village, taking into account the historical substance. An adaptation of the existing stables to the changed, contemporary conditions was the declared aim of this work, since the stables and barns between the houses of Vrin could no longer satisfy the rationalized agriculture, which made the construction of additional farm buildings necessary. From the point of view of the department for preservation of monuments and the architect, it was necessary in particular to solve volumetric questions in order to ensure a coherent ensemble effect. Gion A. Caminada himself described his intervention as an “agricultural repair”. Due to the economic aspects, Gion A. Caminada has repeatedly chosen constructions in which the client can provide as much personal contribution as possible. For the construction of his stables and barns, the architect refers to the many anonymous builders, and developed construction models based on the traditional methods. Most of his stables have a level for the animals and an overlying threshing floor. In terms of construction, Gion A. Caminada relies on the traditional method of layering roundwoods. In these historic buildings, the logs were clad with boards on the outside, so that only the joints remain visible at the corners. Based on these construction method, horizontal wood frames are stacked on top of each other and planked with vertical boards on the outside, whereby the connection of the static frames also remains visible. The wooden frames have a height of 1.25 meters, with different lengths of up to a maximum of 12 meters. In this relatively inexpensive construction, the wooden frames can be prefabricated and transported to the site as elements. Due to the contemporary hay processing relatively large, air-permeable chambers are required in order not to affect the performance of the hay blower. For this reason, most of the new stables are relatively large in comparison with the historical models. The facades are individually adapted to the requirements and needs of each situation, and provided with windows and doors accordingly. The buildings are covered by a single-pitch roff or a gable roof.