Kengo Kuma, ELEMENTAL and More Design Cabins for Writers at Jan Michalski Foundation
The Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher, Switzerland, has established an innovative retreat featuring nine architecturally distinct cabins dedicated to writers and translators. Offering residencies from two weeks to three months, the cabins were designed by various architectural firms, including atelier bonnet architectes and Kengo Kuma & Associates. Each structure possesses its own atmosphere and creative environment. Annually, around 40 writers utilize these cabins, alongside access to an extensive library and beautiful natural landscapes. Notable designs include a two-story cabin and Décosterd's unique installation incorporating a quote from Thoreau in Morse code. Kuma's cabin accommodates small groups comfortably.
Key facts
- Nine cabins for writers and translators at Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher, Switzerland.
- Architects include atelier bonnet architectes, Jean-Gilles Décosterd, Andreas Fuhrimann Gabrielle Hächler Architekten, ELEMENTAL, Mangeat-Wahlen, Studio MK27, Rintala Eggertsson Architects, Schaub Zwicky Architekten, and Kengo Kuma & Associates.
- Residencies last from two weeks to three months.
- Foundation hosts around forty authors each year.
- Cabins are suspended beneath the Foundation's openwork canopy.
- Six cabins face Lake Geneva and the Alps; one faces the Jura forest.
- ELEMENTAL's communal cabin was developed with Swiss firm +2 Architectes.
- Kengo Kuma's cabin was completed between 2018 and 2019.
- Schaub Zwicky Architekten designed an accessible cabin for residents with reduced mobility.
Entities
Artists
- Kengo Kuma
- Alejandro Aravena
- Marcio Kogan
- Jean-Gilles Décosterd
- Andreas Fuhrimann
- Gabrielle Hächler
- Barbara Schaub
- Regula Zwicky
- Vincent Mangeat
- Pierre Wahlen
- Henry David Thoreau
- Le Corbusier
Institutions
- Jan Michalski Foundation
- atelier bonnet architectes
- Andreas Fuhrimann Gabrielle Hächler Architekten
- ELEMENTAL
- Mangeat-Wahlen
- Studio MK27
- Rintala Eggertsson Architects
- Schaub Zwicky Architekten
- Kengo Kuma & Associates
- +2 Architectes
- designboom
Locations
- Montricher
- Switzerland
- Jura Mountains
- Lake Geneva
- Alps
- Lausanne