Ski and chips

Since 2011, the 2262-metre-high Chäserrugg in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen has become the "Hausberg", the home mountain of Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron. In recent years, they have designed the buildings for both a classic cable car and a gondola lift with 78 ten-passenger gondolas. The latter was inaugurated at the beginning of 2016 and has now been supplemented by a small restaurant building at the Espel valley station. Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy Toggenburg Flammkuchen during the ski season, prepared with Mostbröckli and alpine cheese or with Tannenschössli Latwerge.

The new building also makes use of the reduced typology already developed by the firm of architects for the previous buildings from the (high) alpine architecture of the area. Haystacks and stables are undoubtedly the role models here. The small, almost completely symmetrical wooden structure has a flat pitched saddle roof that is extended far down. Inside, it offers space for a kitchen and a small dining room for 25 people. A large wooden terrace is located in front of the south side, to which the kitchen opens with a food serving area. The opening can be closed by a folding shutter. The terrace is dismantled in the summer and stowed under a canopy on the east side of the pavilion during this time. (fap)