Iseppi-Kurath‘s winning competition for a highway service area intends to act as a “window towards the region”. Located next to the exit Thusis-Nord at the highway A13 in Grisons, Switzerland, this service area boasts an expressive roof that “combines the architectural prelude of the building and brings together the entrance and exit of it.”
More about the service area and more images after the break.
The building’s layout, almost spiral in plan, allows customers to walk around the edges happening upon shops for produce and products, a restaurant, bar area, take-away, and tourism information, all with direct access from the outside. The plan accommodates quieter areas for conference purposes and a serviced restaurant.
Large window opening toward the vast expanse of canyons (the Viamala and the Muttnerhöhe, Schin canyon) as well as the Domleschg valley. The wooden interior adds to the service area’s “warmth and cozy concealment.”
Structurally, the main load bearing elements are wood, complemented by some stiffening concrete slabs. These elements carry the interior wooden finishing and the exterior façade from metal. The building with its weatherproof and low maintenance façade from metal references through the formal design and choice of materials the surrounding landscape but also automobile technology.
The roof, a one meter thick folded surface, consists of beams from laminated wood and rafters. The insulation is installed through a suspended ceiling. The wall elements of timber frame construction where prefabricated and mounted at the construction.
As seen on Bustler. Photography by Thomas Drexel.
Project Details: Project: Viamala Raststätte Thusis Location: Viamala Raststätte Thusis, 7430 Thusis / Switzerland Client: Viamala Raststätte Thusis AG (corporation) Architecture: Iseppi/Kurath GmbH, Thusis Building Engineering: Pöyry Infra AG, Chur Wood Construction Engineering: Walter Bieler, Bonaduz
Materials: Wood for construction: laminated (composite) wood 202 m3 Slat/two-by-four scantling 124 m3 Planks (timber roofing) 1,525 m2 Multi-functional boards 456 m2 Wall and ceiling finish (cover): timber 980 m2, teel 3,200 kg
Construction costs (total): CHF 9.5 Million (US$ 9 Million) Plot area: 24,000 m2 GFA: 1,300 m2 ground floor, 380 m2 basement Building volume: 8,500 m3 Price per cubic meter (BKP2, Swiss building cost indices): CHF 541 (US$ 511) Construction period: August 2007 – June 2008
The project was also included in the “Exhibition Landmarks To-Be. Architecture and landscape projects for Graubünden” at the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture gta of the ETH in Zurich along projects of Architects such as Valerio Olgiati, Peter Zumthor, Valentin Bearth/Andrea Deplazes.
