Renovation of the Student Vacation Home, Charmey

The Project
The student holiday home in Charmey, built in 1973 on behalf of the City of Zurich, is an outstanding example of the expressive architectural culture of the 1970s and is protected as a cultural asset of the Canton of Fribourg. As part of the comprehensive restoration, the building will be returned to its original, raw state and supplemented with targeted new interventions. By exposing the original materials, using untreated surfaces, and carefully placing new elements, an authentic interplay of old and new is created that preserves the building’s unadulterated, powerful character while ensuring its continued use for future generations.

The Construction Work
In addition to the design modifications, the fire alarm system was dismantled and completely replaced. New ventilation systems and ductwork were also installed. The commercial kitchen was modernized and relocated to a separate fire compartment. The newly installed elevator and the two smoke and heat exhaust windows are directly connected to the fire alarm system.

The Challenge
The project involved fire protection planning for an existing building, which was updated to comply with current regulations. This included coordinating all specialist designers and ensuring the integration of fire alarm, ventilation, and smoke and heat exhaust systems. In addition, EI30 doors with automatic control and a passenger elevator with fire control were installed.