Kengo Kuma Designs Wing-Like Timber Roofs for Verbier Cultural Center

Kengo Kuma & Associates has unveiled plans for a new cultural center in Verbier, Switzerland, featuring layered timber roofs inspired by Alpine peaks and traditional Valais chalets. The project, expected to open in 2031, will include an 800-seat concert hall, a 120-seat auditorium, an art gallery, children's spaces, a café, and public areas. The design uses closely spaced wooden elements to create a porous exterior that filters light and views. The center aims to establish Verbier as a year-round cultural destination, with construction tentatively scheduled between 2028 and 2029 on municipal land at Chemin des Marais Verts. The privately funded project is part of Val de Bagnes' strategy to diversify beyond winter tourism.