Yesterday morning, I caught up with a close friend from Los Angeles who had just returned from a wonderful anniversary trip in the Swiss Alps. During our conversation, he mentioned an intriguing architectural project he’d discovered.
Haus Balma, designed a few years ago by Kengo Kuma and Associate, serves as the new headquarters and showroom for Vals, a renowned stone manufacturer.
Vals stone is widely admired by architects for its unique aesthetic, high performance, and versatility as a building material. The intention behind this project is not only to showcase Vals stone’s natural beauty but also to highlight its innovative potential within architectural design.
The exterior design, especially the façade, draws inspiration from traditional Alpine eaves, incorporating rough-split stone slabs in a way that mirrors a screen. Alpine houses typically feature small windows to create a sense of warmth and protection. However, the approach here is different: the design aims to foster openness and transparency, allowing breathtaking mountain views to become part of the interior backdrop.
Locally, “Haus Balma” translates to “a void,” referring to a sheltered space between a rock and a slope where animals and people can find refuge and safety in the mountains. The vision for this project is to grow in harmony with its natural surroundings, creating a place of comfort and shelter for both the family and the community.
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