DETAIL 7/8.2024 Building in the mountains

Aiming High

From the metropolis to the solitude of the mountains: In our summer issue, we explore two highly contrasting subjects. In light of current events, we examine the Olympic Games in Paris and the urban redevelopment accompanying this major event. Contributor Philippe Trétiack questions whether the Games are as sustainable as the organizers claim. Far from the bustle of the Seine, we feature six buildings in our „Building in the Mountains“ documentation series. These projects are set in strikingly picturesque landscapes: nestled in secluded forests, perched between rugged cliffs and the coast, and situated in a rocky massif above the clouds:

The architects Bearth Deplazes Ladner draw on regional build­ing traditions for a residential building in the Engadin, adapting it to modern needs. The Explora Lodge on the Uyuni salt plain in Bolivia exemplifies minimal intervention in nature, allowing the landscape to take centre stage. We were also impressed by a family home in Japan, which cleverly conceals its elongated pitched roof, com­plete with stairs and landings, within the wooded hills. Equally ingenious is an alpine bivouac situated high along the Forcella Marmarole pass in the Dolomites, serving as an emergency shelter amidst the rugged peaks.