Memento architecture

Description

The project is located in the historic village of Drône, at the edge of the buildable zone, and benefits from expansive views over the Valais alpine landscape. It comprises a residential building with seven apartments. The plot features a relatively flat lower portion, transitioning into a steep uphill slope. The building is carefully sited on the gentlest part of the terrain, following the existing lower boundary. Its massing is articulated into five staggered volumes in section, allowing the ensemble to subtly negotiate the topography. This fragmentation reduces the perceived scale of the project and establishes, by analogy, a dialogue with the finer grain of the historic village fabric. The apartment layouts are conceived as a sequence of enfilade spaces, minimising the need for corridors. Living areas are organised across two distinct volumes, connected through a split-level arrangement. The façades, clad in timber treated with a saturating finish, echo the material expression of traditional alpine chalets and support the building’s integration into both its built and natural context. Their vertical emphasis is reinforced by mullions, which simultaneously provide structural support for the loggias and frame the window openings. Finally, a concrete plinth mediates the interface between timber and ground, adapting to the natural slope of the site.