A chapel in Rüeggisberg

Johan Link

Located in the village of Rüeggisberg (County Bern, Switzerland), the project addresses the remains of a former Cluniac monastery. Abandoned after a fire in 1532, the site still reveals the foundation of a nave that was never completed due to lack of funds. Positioned along the Via Jacobi, a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, the location receives many walkers but currently offers no space for prayer, rest, or reflection. This project proposes the construction of a small chapel within the stone foundations of the unbuilt nave. It offers a new spiritual pause for pilgrims while respecting the quiet presence of the ruins. The structure is built using actively bent timber elements, woven and assembled with robotic precision. This method allows for an innovative way of building directly on site, reducing the need for prefabrication and transportation, while making efficient use of materials and enabling easy future disassembly. The proposal responds to the site’s lack of shelter and spiritual space with a light and respectful intervention.

Files
Énoncé (PDF)
LINKS
Team
Teachers:
Stefana Parascho, Alexandra Nicole Pittiglio, Yves Weinand
Supervision team:
Parascho, Stefana (dir. pédagogique) ; Weinand, Yves (prof.) ; Pittiglio, Alexandra (mentor·e) ; Patteeuw, Véronique (expert·e)
Professor in charge of the statement:
Parascho, Stefana (ENAC IA CRCL)
Unit:
ENAC-SAR, CRCL
Infos
Year:
2025
Period:
Fall
Category:
Master Project
Copyright:
CC BY Licence
Theoretical statement

From Formwork to Form Freedom

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