House Rüegg Cavigelli

This multi-family house in Chur, built in the 1930s, underwent its first major refurbishment in 1968 at the hands of the Chur-based architect Andres Liesch, one of the most influential figures of post-war modernism in Graubünden, who played a decisive role in shaping the region’s architectural landscape with over 250 buildings in the canton, including numerous school buildings and public structures. Fifty years after this intervention, a gentle refurbishment was now required: alterations, renovation and, above all, a new colour scheme were intended to carefully refresh the building without altering its character.

At the heart of the project is a precisely coordinated colour scheme that lends the residential building a harmonious and unobtrusive atmosphere. Charismatic dark tones meet lighter shades of grey, brown, and white, creating appealing contrasts that work well in a wide variety of lighting conditions and give the rooms a new yet tranquil character. Instead of a loud statement, the result is a coherent, understated overall appearance that respects the building’s structure and historical character whilst noticeably revitalising it.

The conversion of the city villa is thus understood less as an intervention in the architecture than as a careful further development of an existing work, an approach that takes into account both the original building fabric from the 1930s and the distinctive style that Andres Liesch imbued the building with in 1968.