Discover Germany | Special Theme | Top Architects Switzerland
Comfort value: Pfister architects build bioecological homes in stunning locations Answering the ever-growing demand for eco-friendly buildings, Swiss-based Pfister architects have put the focus on building biology at the top of their agenda, resulting in a living comfort that is simply state of the art. TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI | PHOTOS: ANDREAS PFISTER
The small but long-standing office is a merger between two prestigious Swiss architects' families, the Pfisters and the Roccos. With their expertise in real estate planning, they apply their knowledge of biological and ecological architecture to projects like Schafigaden, a development of second-home houses in the Swiss Alps. Here, buyers and future inhabitants can spend a blissfully undisturbed holiday, literally. In the airy, modern houses, electronic stress is reduced to nil. Power cycles in the bedroom areas can be entirely switched off overnight, while enforced shielding allows escaping electronic 76 | Issue 41 | August 2016
stress produced by any of the neighbours' wireless devices. The small Pfister office provides exclusivity in planning, development and execution close to the clients' needs. Andreas Pfister, architect in the fourth generation, describes the merits of the Schafigaden project as high-quality design, conscientious and precise planning and execution, with a focus on ecological and electrobiological principles. The freestanding houses are situated on a sunny hill next to a bubbling mountain stream. Skiing slopes are nearby, a comfortable access to the Arosa
and Lenzerheide winter sports paradise is guaranteed and the generous southfacing glazing provides for a magnificent unobstructed view of the Arosa mountain scenery. On lovely winter days, the sun can be savored on the sheltered patio. The quiet and sunny position of the development invites to long, pleasant snow walks in wintertime, but also during summer, picturesque hiking paths and adventurous biking routes, the lido and an 18-hole golf course provide plenty of holiday activity. The Schafigaden houses' layouts are specifically designed to fulfill the needs of an ideal holiday home. Various sleeping areas with optimised wet cells can accommodate a large number of guests and an expansive living area leaves nothing to be desired, including the option