{"id":35498,"date":"2025-05-20T15:15:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heartbrut.com\/?p=35498"},"modified":"2025-10-25T15:58:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T13:58:12","slug":"five-brutalism-inspired-contemporary-artspaces-inthe-swissmountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heartbrut.com\/fr\/five-brutalism-inspired-contemporary-artspaces-inthe-swissmountains\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Brutalism-inspired, contemporary art spaces to see in the Swiss mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

If your heart beats for contemporary art, brutalism based architecture and nature, the Swiss mountains are your dream destination. Apart from breathtaking scenery, they boast a unique density of jaw-dropping concrete gems that blend art, architecture and cutting-edge technology. Here are my top five. Bon voyage!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

THE WHITE TOWER (TOR ALVA)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Mulegns, Graub\u00fcnden<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a9 Karin B\u00fcrki\/Heartbrut<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Graub\u00fcnden has a brand new cultural landmark. Unveiled in late May 2025, the White Tower illuminates the tiny mountain village of Mulegns, located along the historic Julier Pass route. With its delicate, sculptural elegance and intricately interwoven ornamentation, the tower resembles a giant sugar confection made of concrete.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

You have never seen anything like it. It makes a great selfie-background and will wow a lot of tourists. But this is not statement architecture. On the contrary: The tower seeks to revive Mulegns (currently inhabited by 12 people) and pays tribute to the confectioners of Graub\u00fcnden who left their homeland in poverty, returned wealthy and went on to invest their courage and craftsmanship in magnificent villas and churches. The tower’s bold looks, spectacular staging and fully digital fabrication process are a contemporary continuation of Graub\u00fcnden’s pioneering spirit, rich baukultur and innovative engineering. This is, after all, the homeland of winter tourism, which has given us St. Moritz and spectacular train viaducts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What would the confectioners build today? Nothing less than the \u2018Eiffel Tower of Mulegns,\u2019 as Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin aptly put it in his speech at the opening ceremony. The giant piece of alpine patisserie is indeed an architectural and technological marvel. The 30-metre-high tower is currently the world’s tallest 3D-printed concrete structure. It stands on a base structure and comprises four floors. Each is supported by eight filigree double and quadruple concrete columns, which were printed by robots. The domed hall serves as a viewing platform and stage for cultural performances and can accommodate up to 32 people. From here, visitors enjoy breathtaking views of the village and the majestic Val Surses valley.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The project was initiated by Giovanni Netzer, the head, heart and soul of the Origen Cultural Foundation, which has been reviving Mulegns and developed and implemented in collaboration with ETH Zurich’s Digital Building Technologies department, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dillenburger and Michael Hansmeyer.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The tower took four and a half years to complete. Total cost: CHF 4.5 million. However, even the most artistic patisserie is not permanent. After five years in Mulegns, the White Tower will be dismantled and rebuilt in a new location.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"The\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a9 Karin B\u00fcrki\/Heartbrut<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

LA CONGIUNTA<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Giornico, Ticino<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Museo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a9 Karin B\u00fcrki\/Heartbrut<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Here’s an idea for a journey to one of Switzerland\u2019s most radical and archaic art museums. It is dedicated to the Swiss sculptor Hans Josephsohn<\/a> whose reliefs and half-figures have found the perfect match in Peter M\u00e4rkli<\/a>\u2019s pared-down exposed-concrete shelter. The mini-museum is located in Giornico, a picturesque village in the Leventina valley in northern Ticino, midway between Bellinzona and Airolo. Access is an intimate and bare bones affair: simply pick up the key in the osteria next to the bus stop in the centre of Giornico.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Walk to the edge of the village and cross the roman bridge over the river Ticino. You’ll have no troubles spotting the b\u00e9ton brut monolith. In the ascetic interior Josephson’s reliefs and sculptures stand in rows, staring stoically at the concrete walls, or each other. There is plenty of air and light and not much else. Where does the sculpture end and the architecture begin? M\u00e4rkli described his project as a \u201cradical architectural meditation\u201d. Add to this the wildly romantic scenery of the Leventine valley and your mind will go zen in no time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Museo\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a9 Karin B\u00fcrki\/Heartbrut<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t