Corinna Menn

Description

Over time, infrastructure buildings have formed varying relationships with the dominant natural elements of water, forest and rock. To preserve the landscape, the new structure is carefully integrated at the forest’s edge, intentionally leaving the Caumasee lakefront open. With a minimal footprint, the building’s functions are stacked vertically. Its steep gable roof gives it a calm, grounded presence at the forest’s edge. Beyond establishing a strong identity, the design also embraces the forest as a local material resource for construction. The load-bearing system is precisely integrated into the different spaces, combining columns and panels to create a well-defined structure. The linear construction elements shape the interior into striking, tectonic spaces. The year-round restaurant and kitchen are housed under a single roof, with suspended columns and A-frame supports acting as sculptural features. A compact, enclosed service floor for technical equipment and storage functions as a structural grid, distributing loads to the ground floor, where a self-service summer kiosk is located. Externally, foldable and sliding façade elements adapt the building to seasonal changes and varying lake activity. This dynamic layer expands spaces in summer and contracts them in winter. The dark-stained façade blends into the forest, while the thin aluminium roof, delicately placed like a sheet of paper, subtly shifts in appearance with the viewing angle.