Historic chalet reborn

In the heart of Val-d’Illiez, a chalet from 1891 has been transformed into the village’s new town hall. Once abandoned and severely deteriorated, the project preserves the original facades and heritage elements while adapting the structure to its new civic role. The intervention raises each floor to achieve the necessary ceiling heights, using a manual jacking method that recalls both craft and ingenuity.

Structural renewal

A new timber framework supports the lifted structure, while the floor slabs reinterpret the chalet’s original ceilings with a grid of technical coffered panels. At the center, a seismic core organizes circulation and integrates essential services, ensuring the building meets contemporary standards while maintaining a strong architectural presence.

Heritage as dialogue

Instead of a static restoration, the transformation emphasizes continuity and evolution. The facades retain their historic openings, even those modified over time, while carefully adding new apertures. This approach allows the building’s layered history to remain visible, creating a dialogue between past and present that strengthens its civic identity.

A living town hall

The conversion reflects a philosophy of heritage as a living process. By enhancing spatial quality and preserving memory, the building asserts its renewed function while respecting its origins. The new town hall of Val-d’Illiez embodies both permanence and transformation, offering the community a place rooted in history yet adapted to future needs.

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