A New Entrance

The parking project in Guarda, a village in the Lower Engadine, was conceived as an opportunity to redefine the village’s entrance, recognized as a historic monument for its urban coherence and well-preserved architecture. With a substantial daily influx of tourists, the village needed a new parking strategy to free up its central public spaces. Following the competition proposal, tourist parking (72 spaces) was placed 300 meters from the village core, while a residents’ parking area (30 spaces) was planned at the village entrance (though not implemented). This approach preserved the village’s historic integrity while creating a gentle promenade linking the parking to the heart of the village. The design emphasizes the transition from the vehicular world to the intimate scale of the village, highlighting the dialogue between nature and architecture. Nestled in a small valley, the parking area is articulated through four reinforced concrete walls that form a series of terraces. A modest service building acts as a civic landmark, while a pedestrian pathway, framed by an 18th-century tree-lined avenue, guides visitors seamlessly into the village centre.