Innertkirchen

The small Swiss town of Innertkirchen is one of the last habitable settlements along the pilgrims’ path which leads over the St Bernard Pass in Switzerland. This project was a response to a competition to design a visitors centre - including a post office, general store, a library and an ‘interpretation centre’ - showing the history of the pilgrims route and significance of the town.

Pilgrims would mark their route by laying a single stone on top of another laid by a previous walker. Over time, these stones would build cairns: small piles of stones which marked the route for others. The design used this idea as inspiration for the shape and arrangement of the building, resulting in a number of organic forms surrounding a small sheltered public space designed for outdoor events and the town market. The materials were of cut stone cladding and shingle roofs—shaped to echo the jagged mountain range beyond. The internal pubic space and exhibition room would use cut-crystal like finishes - like a gemstone exposed through a cut rock - creating a stark contrast to the grey-stone exterior.

New Community Centre & Urban Space

Located in Switzerland

2009