The Judges Awards

05.2 Villa Vals, Switzerland, by Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Müller

Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Müller are the minds behind this unusual residence in the Swiss village of Vals. Nestled in a hillside, Villa Vals is designed as the ideal mountain retreat, orientated so it captures plenty of natural light. It boasts contemporary concrete, stone and wood interiors, and an array of modern Dutch- and Swiss-designed furniture. With four bedrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a hot tub in the courtyard, and a spacious living area with breathtaking views of mountain peaks, Villa Vals is also intended to be energy neutral; the architects are aiming to install a turbine in a close-by stream to produce hydropower and cover the house's energy needs.

Key features: A thoroughly contemporary retreat dug into a Swiss mountain Architects' previous work: Dutch Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Mastenbroek); House on Oude, Delft, The Netherlands (Müller)

Based: Amsterdam/Rotterdam

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