What is going on behind Zuoz facades

Zuoz, say those who live by the hospitality industry, is the most beautiful village in the whole valley. "In fact, our municipality has one of the best-preserved building Structures", confirmed a need-to-know: As an architect and a member of the building Committee Christian Klainguti, works to preserve the architectural and historical heritage and to maintain.

The bridge over the Inn river that connects the village where the people live, with a small industrial district in which they work. In her Studio, between a painter business, a coffee Museum and a car repair shop, hedges of the 63-year-old Klainguti, and be 18 years of age of younger Partner Gian-Reto rain age those concepts, the accept on the other side of the river, behind the facades of the historic Engadin houses, the shape.

Gian-Reto rain age says you've built in the past, much more sustainable than it is today. Photo: Nicola Pitaro

the Essence is always the same: preserve, renovate, optimize, and mindful, and sustainable. "Sustainability," explains Klainguti, "does not mean that we are replacing the Windows, walls heat-insulation and solar panels on the roofs and on." Such interventions are for the architects of "cultural outrage". Because the solar panels make in the Engadin little sense: "The disappearance of us in the snow!"

According to Gian-Reto rain age has been built previously, even with a considerably more sustainable than it is today: "You also have to factor in the embodied energy. At the time, worked only with physical strength – without the cost of energy for electricity and fuel for Transport."

On the example of two buildings, it is clear to see the different way of stunning effects can be achieved. Mierta Casty, the daughter of 40 years ago by the late glass artist Gian Casty, the house of the father, completely renovate – from the cool and damp cellar up to the well-tempered bed-chamber, in the roof floor.

The result is impressive: From the outside, hardly any difference is seen. The massive walls and narrow Windows have stood the test of 500 years of storage of heat and cold insulators. The archway, which served the farmers once as a barn door for incoming and outgoing Heufuder, presents itself today as an entrance to a spacious vestibule.

Historic Villa with a modern extension

complemented in the interior were only there, where the ravages of time or the Lust for luxury made it necessary, harmonious contrasts, such with a staircase made of steel instead of wood. Right next to it, Klainguti, and rain age two buildings, the historic Villa Marguerita and the Chesa Bellaval have to be supplemented by a modern Annex, in the three guest rooms with a Sauna combined in such a way that the Old and the New unite and the B&B catering to the comfort hotel will be charged.

Who deals with the old, traditional Engadin houses and its history, you will find that these were built long before the Grisons joined the Confederation, but very few buildings are significantly older than half a Millennium. "This is a good reason," says Gian-Reto rain age, is familiar with the history of Rhaetia. "A bloody reason."

The residents of Zuoz and S-chanf had applied in 1499, the tactics of scorched earth.

And he told how the Engadine was as part of the trade route between Milan and Innsbruck to the Apple of discord of the bishops and the Habsburg emperors, and in the turmoil of the Swabian war came. The gorge Chalavaina between the Munster and South Tyrol was struck in 1499 to the field of battle, in the Grisons, the army of Emperor Maximilian I. damning.

This blew up two weeks later for revenge and the Engadine sent a second army over the chaschauna pass into the upper. However, instead of the settlements, which they wanted to plunder, found the soldiers only Smoking rubble: residents of Zuoz and S-chanf had applied the tactics of scorched earth, burned their houses and hiding in the woods.

in Spite of new buildings has the municipality of Zuoz is still plenty of historical buildings. Photo: Nicola Pitaro

"Wherefore," concludes the architect, "there is little building older than 500 years. And because the people's bodies after their return, the villages art done again, and since then, no more wars in the Engadine were conducted, many of the houses are several Hundred years old."

One of the largest, oldest and most beautiful patrician houses near the place of the village. Here are the legendary Zuoz district nurse Sidonja Salzgeber-Nold up to your hundredth birthday, lived, after they moved into the home, where she died four years later. Their heirs sold the house to Christian Klainguti. "It was a stroke of luck," recalls the architect. "As a child, I lived in the neighboring house, and from such a house I had always dreamed of."

On the walls hang hunting rifles, and animal furs

He opens the door and enters a past that consists of three floors and eight rooms. "I think Sidonja would be delighted if you could see your house again," says Klainguti, has invested a lot of time and heart's blood, in order to make the building habitable again. "Much of what she left behind, books, photos, Newspapers and documents, makes the soul of the house." Therefore, he has archived everything neatly sorted and in drawers and shelves.

On the walls are antique black powder guns and hunting guns, historical maps, and animal skins. It is obvious: This architect renovated old houses, he loves everything that is old and beautiful and he likes as much as possible. "You could say that my Collecting has become an Addiction," he admits and smiles disarmingly: "I don't play Golf!"

Christian Klainguti, treated in the old houses, like old cars: "You must cultivate carefully and lovingly." Photo: Andrea Klainguti,

And, after a little Pause: "you have not seen the Cuort yet, the Vorstall." He opens the door next to the entrance, where once the four-legged friends were. Today, you have four wheels, but it would probably be presumptuous to refer to it as the cars are rare classic cars, purchased Klainguti, in the course of his life.

at the Back of the wall, two Porsche from the ' 70s, in a corner of a Alfa Romeo and the Brabham, two Austin Healeys and a Dallara-sports car. "And they are all roadworthy. The blue car over there, the racing cars, a 90-year-old Riley. With the I drive on a regular basis over the albula pass." With old cars, he continues, whether it is with old houses: "You must cultivate carefully and lovingly. But if you überrestauriert you, raped you."

Gian-Reto rain age commented on the passion for collecting, his business partner with a Smile. "I got a car," he grins, "a whole new! And in the Cockpit Norina Urezza is sitting." His daughter came a few weeks ago, to the world. When Gian-Reto and his wife, industrial designer Aita Bott, walking through the village, it sometimes happens that a Riley-classic car turns the corner and the stroller granted the right of way.

This post is part of a series, which was funded by the Engadin St. Moritz tourism. The editorial responsibility lies with the Sunday newspaper. Now all of the articles in the E-Paper of the Sunday newspaper, read: App for iOS App for Android – Web-App

Created: 22.11.2019, 15:54 PM