In their quest to create something unusual, architect Bjarne Mastenbroek of architectural firm SeARCH teamed up with Architect Christian Muller to design a pair of dwellings under the alpine slopes in the Vals village of Switzerland. The Villa Vals is the answer to their question ‘Shouldn’t it be possible to conceal a house in an Alpine slope while still exploiting the wonderful views and allowing light to enter the building?‘. The Villa Vals is basically a holiday home which can be rented throughout the year. The structure is created with concrete & stone, while the interiors makes heavy use of wood and furniture designed by dutch & Swiss designers. The central patio opens up into a large facade with large window openings. The spectacular views of the alpine mountains while sipping on the morning coffee is simply breathtaking. The contemporary interiors consists of four cozy bedrooms, a spacious living area, state of the art kitchen and even a hot tub in the courtyard.
“The design plan was to completely integrate the villa into the landscape to avoid disturbing the unspoiled nature. That is why access to the villa is only possible via the nearby wooden Graubünder shed, through an underground tunnel which runs straight through the mountainside. The facade of the house is slightly slanted, adding to the view of the mountain scenery across the valley opposite of the house.
The house, which was completed in 2009, was built and furnished in cooperation with a large number of Dutch designers and companies that produce Dutch design. Their willful designs fit well in the spacious, industrial architecture of the villa. Pieces and objects of, amongst others, Hella Jongerius, Demakersvan, Scholten & Baijings, Marcel Wanders, Claudy Jongstra, Royal Tichelaar Makkum and Vitra Nederland were used. The spacious interior is an eclectic, but balanced mix of contemporary Dutch Design. A unique combination of architecture, interior and styling.”
Photography by Iwan Baan
+ SeARCH
