Felsenburg 生态友好型改造项目丨瑞士丨Sara Gelibter Architecte

In 2024, Sara Gelibter Architecte reimagined Felsenburg, a historic house in Biel-Bienne, Switzerland, originally constructed around 1860. An urgent roof renovation served as the catalyst, leading to a design featuring corrugated fiber cement panels and exposed wooden structures. The project prioritizes economic and ecological considerations, showcasing a collaborative effort between architects and owners, resulting in a space that honors its historical heritage while embracing contemporary design elements.

Historical Background and Transformation

Originally built around 1860, the Felsenburg began as an agricultural building that supported the vineyards of the Beaumont district. The single-storey main building was later extended with an additional floor, adapting to serve the metal galvanizing industry. At the beginning of the 20th century, a two-storey annexe was added to house the factory’s offices. Transformed into a youth hostel in the 1960s, it eventually became a single-family home in the 1980s, showing the building’s flexibility and lasting relevance.

The urgent need to renovate the roof was the starting point for the project. As a result, the new owners chose to renovate the top floor, taking the opportunity to transform it into creative living spaces. The project emphasized economic efficiency and ecological awareness, adhering to a tight budget but achieving a design that was versatile in terms of function and rich in aesthetic quality.

A low-budget, low-tech approach

Practical and ecological, the decision led to an innovative design approach in which a new volume was formed by the intersection of geometric surfaces. The monolithic south side is optimized for the installation of photovoltaic panels, while the closed north side attenuates noise disturbances from the train. In contrast, the east and west sides open up fully to the view of the landscape, enhanced by daylight and the tactile effect of the vertical larch wood slats.

The unique economic approach included recruiting the owners as active participants. While the architects concentrated on the attic and second floor, the renovation of the first floor was carried out by the owners themselves, largely using recycled materials. Their active involvement not only minimized renovation costs, but also fostered a strong sense of collaboration between family members, contributing positively to the resilience of the project and the end result.

Felsenburg combines its rich historical narrative with architectural innovation, managing to combine respect for heritage with modern design and sustainability principles. This particular synergy of creative constraints and opportunities offers an insightful case study into the potential of architecture to innovate within limits, while delivering aesthetic and functional excellence.