ART RESEARCH. INDIVIDUAL HOME

Dr. Allmann’s House, located in Flims—this private residence of Rudolf Olgiati was constructed from reinforced concrete on a sloping site in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Author: Rudolf Olgiati
Location: Switzerland (Unterwasser)
Year: 1968
Purpose: Private Residence

Context. Not mimicry of the farm, but the simplification of local tradition down to its tectonic essence: the wall’s thickness, the depth of the opening, and the connection to the topography. The exterior walls relate to the vertical lines of the Flims Valley.

Architectural Principle:
The architectural principle of Dr. Allemann’s house is the openness of materiality and the simplification of tradition. The concrete retains the marks of the formwork and the vault; the whitewash does not mask the structure, but rather connects the house to the white barns of the valley. The Alpine farmhouse is reduced to its tectonic essence: the mass of the wall, the depth of the opening, the connection to the terrain. The load-bearing core is a chimney-pillar, so the floors are thin. The space progresses from a compressed entrance through staggered levels up to the upstairs living room—bedrooms are downstairs. The staircase intersects the fireplace and a bench, cutting through the plan’s geometry.

Geometry. The volume follows the terrain: a compact monolith above, and tiered white volumes below. The facade is asymmetrical, with openings positioned not on a grid, but according to views and light. Deep, funnel-shaped windows emphasize the wall’s thickness and focus the light.

Material: foam core
Scale 1:100