Transformation of a Pig Farm in Sion, Switzerland

Project: Transformation of a Pig Farm in Sion
Architects: Madeleine architectes + Studio François Nantermod
Location: Sion, Switzerland
Area: 1 614 sq ft
Year: 2022
Photography: Séverin Malaud

Transformation of a Pig Farm in Sion

The project "Transformation of a Pig Farm in Sion", designed by Madeleine architectes and Studio François Nantermod, is an outstanding project that transforms a rural pig farm into a home for the elderly. After careful interior clearance, the building now accommodates an office profession on the first floor and a parental refuge on the second, offering spacious views of the picturesque garden to the east and sunset over the roofs of barns to the west. Vertical connectivity is achieved through two wooden spiral staircases, and a winding path through tall grass leads to a wooden bridge, completing an immersive experience. The building's facade is adorned with a natural thermal insulation layer made of limestone and hemp, created through the involvement of craftsmen in a workshop to achieve an honest and rustic finish harmonizing with the rural setting.

"The Recipe". Transformation of a Pig Farm in Sion. At the intersection of farm and coop, leaning on the slope of the garden that originally served as a shelter for pigs, the rural site becomes a retreat home for parents of a large family. The interior volume undergoes cleaning necessary for the new purpose.

The office profession occupies the first floor, while the parental refuge moves to the second floor — its height features an open area connected with two opposite directions, equally rich in context. The picturesque garden to the east responds to twilight, while the sunset over the roofs of barns to the west recalls paintings by Caspar David Friedrich such as "Evening Star" and "Woman before setting sun".

Circulation connects the ground floor spaces with the upper level via two non-intersecting wooden spiral staircases, enhancing the verticality of this distribution element. A winding path through tall grass leads to a wooden bridge. This folk element, typical of rural areas, completes the walking circuit.

Created through a combination of mineral (limestone) and plant-based (hemp) materials, the thermal insulation shell is applied directly onto the existing facade like a bandage for a wound. A workshop involving craftspeople, client, and architects unites all participants around shaping this new shell, expressed as an honest and rustic finish.

–Madeleine architectes + Studio François Nantermod