Engadine House Renovation

The “Chesa Cotschna” is a historic Engadine farmhouse, featuring a heated residential core with a wood-paneled stüva and an upper bedroom; originally, this was the residential tower of the rural unit. Over time, a central access area and a barn were added above the stable, all unified under a single roof. In 1927, the house underwent a renovation that altered its appearance, introducing geometrized “Italian-style” façade elements. The recent restoration, while respecting local traditions and the unified external appearance, transforms the farmhouse into a contemporary residence through three main interventions carried out over 20 years: 1. Central Staircase: A new staircase, the architectural focal point of the vertical space, is positioned between the old residential section and the barn. It functions as a sculptural piece, redefining the interior as a double-height volume. A large panoramic window, the only new façade intervention, emphasizes this space and offers privileged landscape views. 2. Bedrooms in the Loft: Two bedrooms were inserted in the barn’s loft space. 3. Barn Conversion: The barn was transformed into habitable space. A geometrically defined wooden structure, independent from the walls, contains a lower-level bedroom with services and serves as the base for the living area, which retains the original barn walls and openings.