Remarkable transformation of an 1800s barn

You'll probably say I'm obsessed with old wood, recovered wood or converted old wooden dwellings. I don't even think I could argue with that. And if I did, the numerous articles written on these subjects in just over a year would contradict me. So I'm not going to try to find an explanation for why I'm going to write about an old house in the Swiss Alps again. Basically it's a barn from 1792 that has been converted into a cosy chalet, retaining most of the original structure.

The 25 square metre building is located in the village of Sarreyer, Switzerland and was used as a cattle shed and hay storage. At the request of a young family, it was converted into a holiday home with 2 bedrooms, a dining area and a living area. The project was done by a local architectural firm, which has done similar conversions of buildings in the area, Alp'Architecture sarl.

The renovation involved the complete disassembly of the structure, piece by piece. Each element was taken apart and numbered so that, after the necessary repairs and refurbishments, the construction could reproduce the original model as closely as possible.

Alp'Archtecture's project was based on a footprint of 25 sqm, building 3 levels and reaching almost 90 sqm. The first level, a stone structure on which the barn was built, was maintained and rebuilt. That became the first level of the building, below the access level to the cottage.

Levels 2 and 3 were built mainly from reclaimed barn wood. Level 2 is the entrance to the lodge because that's where the street is. The bedrooms are on levels 1 and 3. The bathrooms are also located there. On Level 2 the kitchen was built along with the dining area, and on the top level is the second bedroom and living room. On the top floor there is also a balcony from where you can admire the beauty of the mountains.

When restoring the structure, special attention was paid to every detail and an attempt was made to use every object or piece of wood that reminded us of the past. The result is a cottage with all the necessary utilities, spacious enough for a young family with children, but which does not alter the appearance and beauty of the area.

I like such renovations precisely because the main concern of architects and builders, but especially owners, is not to build chaotically, not to stand out, to keep the area authentic. And above all, not to cut the roots, not to forget the past.