CIAHAD House by Camponovo Baumgartner Architekten: A Thoughtful Renovation in the Heart of the Swiss Alps

Perched at 1,800 meters above sea level in the alpine village of Arosa, Switzerland, the CIAHAD House by Camponovo Baumgartner Architekten is a deeply contextual renovation project that respectfully intertwines past and present. Originally a 19th-century farmhouse, the building carries within its walls a layered history—from its roots as a rustic alpine cabin to its current transformation as a refined yet humble retreat nestled in the Grisons Alps.

A Cabin with a Story

The name CIAHAD, charmingly an acronym for Come In And Have A Drink, captures the spirit of the place. It echoes a local anecdote: hikers once mistook the cabin for a mountain tavern and were graciously offered refreshments by the owner’s mother, a gesture that has now become part of the cabin’s lore. This sense of openness and belonging is woven into the very architecture of the home.

Adaptive Reuse Rooted in Alpine Vernacular

Throughout its history, the cabin underwent multiple renovations, each layering new materials over the original timber structure without disturbing its core. Camponovo Baumgartner Architekten approached the latest renovation with this same sensitivity—retaining the spatial framework but thoughtfully updating room functions. The former pigsty, for instance, has been repurposed as a self-contained "granny apartment" with a bedroom, bathroom, and library, while the kitchen was returned to its original central location in the home.

Traditional Elements, Reimagined

Two central built-in elements define the interior program: a soapstone stove and an integrated shower, each inspired by traditional Grisons parlors. These volumes serve both as architectural focal points and as infrastructure for heating and water, integrating sustainable building services into the design in a discreet and elegant way.

Original features like the wooden wall paneling in the living room were carefully preserved, while new interventions—such as contemporary plywood treatments—echo the rhythm and tactility of the original surfaces. This approach bridges the historical with the modern, allowing the house to tell its story without interruption.

Enfilade Layout and Spatial Sequencing

The ground floor is organized as an enfilade of four rooms, each descending two steps from the last. This cascading spatial rhythm is emphasized by a continuous wooden datum line that follows the paneling, visually connecting the interiors and anchoring them in the terrain.

Uncovering Memory Through Material

As layers were peeled back during the renovation, hidden traces of the past came to light. A forgotten window emerged beneath the porch cladding, and the living room floor bore the marks of nailed alpine boots—remnants of daily rituals long past. These found elements not only enrich the home's narrative but also celebrate the memory embedded in material surfaces.

With a total area of 593 m², CIAHAD House is a testament to architectural restraint, heritage-sensitive design, and the power of storytelling through space.