1

Natural hazards have always been part of the alpine culture in Switzerland.
A constant exchange between culture, nature and climate.
As climate change has become a more important issue in recent years, it has also deepened it’s impact in the Alps more than before.

By the end of the 21st century, it is expected that during the winter months the 0 degree limit will rise to 1800 meters above sea level.
Permafrost and glaciers will be significantly affected and with their decrease above and below the rock surface, also the danger of mass movements will increase. Climate and individual strong weather events affect the rock both progressively and on short term. In addition to the decrease of the holding ice layers, weathering and erosion processes - caused by rainfall runoffs as well as snow and glacier meltdown - will slowly affect the detachment of the rocks.

2

Only from a volume of 100'000 cubic meters of stone, the rockfall becomes a rockslide and if the mass reaches a volume of 1 million cubic meters it is considered a landslide.

3

The focus lays on the district of Visp with its deep valley striking from the fine ropes close to the Rhône down to the touristic winter infrastructure of Zermatt.

For wide parts of the valley intense landslides are expected within the next 30 years.
Overall, the scientific data forecasts mass movements from low to high intensity within a timespan of 30 to 300 years.

4

While some natural hazards can be repelled by human infrastructures – no structure can stop the mountain itself. Even though mankind resisted and decided to stay.

The history of mass movements shaped the valley and it’s landscape – human footage has been erased and was newly build up again.

5

The mountain, sublime and feared at the same time - its inner and outer nature becomes the leading narrative and guiding motif for the question of the coexistence between natural phenomenon and culture.

The limits of the permanent gives opportunity on a new view of durability.

How can the built be durable if the place where it’s located isn’t infinite and someday unhabitable? The mountains are fragile and a constantly changing threat.

6

Wander
Not a shelter, but related to its simplicity. Surrounded by steep rocks and in the depths of the valley, a firm attachment to only one place endangers its permanence and its inhabitants. So - the house becomes a wanderer. The most precious simply detaches itself, by lifting up and storing its inner heart. When time allows, a new base will be found for all parts of the house in a safer place.

7

The pillars rise from the ground and give posture and strength to the structure. Four vertical steel frames attached to a horizontal frame on each floor builds the main skeleton for the whole structure. Connected to the fundament on the ground it’s also the force of the mechanism. Fine steel ropes and joints connect the light structure of the floors and the supporting structure. To run the ropes, four moving reels are attached to the frames, symmetrical on each floor. Each steel rope is fixed to one outer corner of each floor and runs through a reel on the main

frame. After redirected through reels – its linked to the moving anchor on top - the forces of the ropes are tensed and attached to the steel frames in between roof and top floor level. The anchor beam located at the top of the structure is clamped horizontally between the four steel frames. By the tractive force of the helicopter its pulled upwards via a rail along the frames and sets the entire folding mechanism synchronously in motion. The traction shortens the span between the outer sides of the slabs and the core structure and brings the floors into movement.

The building automatically folds together. 8

The shell - made of local materials and brought together by the rules of the rural, craftmanship - accommodates human and system. Everything has its place, is carefully joined, but remains autonomous in itself. One might wander, the other stays in place.

9

As once in the traditional storehouses of the farmers, all the precious things find their place between the stone walls. Carrying the floors of the light structure that spans between them. A few meters above the ground entered by a staircase out of stone.
A narrow storage in between - Connecting kitchen and living room.

Or separating places to sleep, to work and to play.
Always holding enough space for all belongings.
To be filled up, and wrapped when the danger comes closer and little time is left. Softly lifted at its anchors it turns into a new shape.
To wander.
And to be newly settled at another place.
Leaving behind what can be replaced.
Traces.