The village of Segnas is located in the upper Surselva region and is listed in the Federal Inventory of Protected Buildings as a site of national significance. The village’s high spatial quality comes from the dense arrangement of buildings in parallel rows along two access roads on a slope. Within this central zone, a young local family was able to acquire a small stable on a 31-square-meter plot. The existing building’s volume was used to create a new single-family home while respecting the guidelines for heritage conservation, ensuring a careful approach to the new construction within the protected village core.

The main challenge was to use the limited space as efficiently as possible. At the heart of the new house is a cross-laminated timber tower that connects the split levels and serves multiple functions. This wooden structure acts as a room divider, staircase, utility shaft, chimney, and pellet storage. It also contains built-in cabinets and shelves across all floors. At the same time, the tower takes on a structural role, supporting the roof beam and transferring its load to the ground. This concentration of functions frees up the rest of the living space for flexible use.

Large glass windows bring ample light into the house and offer exceptional views of the Alps. Despite the densely packed buildings in the village center, the strategic positioning of the windows maintains privacy from passersby. The local building regulations prevent increasing the building’s height, so even the underground spaces were designed to be functional and inviting. A glass cutout in the ground floor allows natural light to reach the basement. Despite a total living area of just 55 square meters, the rooms feel spacious. The open staircase allows uninterrupted views along the building’s entire length, creating an illusion of larger spaces.

The building is clad entirely in locally sourced spruce shingles, integrating it seamlessly into the historic village core. Exposed rafters and a simple metal roof echo the structure’s former life as a stable. A polished concrete base extends beyond the façade, protecting the shingles from vehicles and damage. Thanks to the small plot and limited building volume, the project resulted in a single-family home at the cost of a small apartment.

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