This top-floor apartment, designed by renowned Swiss architect Hans-Joerg Ruch, is a gem of contemporary architecture in Samedan’s prestigious Crusch neighborhood. Nestled in a panoramic elevated position, the residence offers breathtaking views of the Engadine landscapes through large windows that flood the space with natural light. The minimalist interior features a spacious open-plan living area with a central fireplace, seamlessly connected to a modern kitchen. Three bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, surround the living space, offering comfort and elegance. With its modern alpine style, radiant heating, and intelligent layout, this apartment combines charm and functionality, making it a perfect retreat in the heart of the Engadine.
Location: Panoramic elevated position in Samedan
Architect: Hans-Joerg Ruch
Apartment Type: Top-floor attic with abundant natural light
Living Space: Open-plan living area with large fireplace
Bedrooms: 3 bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom
Bathrooms: Equipped with bathtubs or shower trays, plus bidets
Kitchen: Functional layout connected to the dining area
Interior Finishes: Wood-paneled walls and floors, minimalist furniture
Windows: Large windows with extraordinary views of Engadine
Heating: Energy-efficient radiant heating
Facilities: Served by a communal elevator
Exterior: Situated near a shaded grove, offering scenic views
Design: Diamond-shaped, contemporary architecture
Situated in a panoramic elevated position relative to the historic center of Samedan and at the edge of a shaded grove, the apartment in question is part of a building that is itself part of a group of three constructions known as the Crusch neighborhood, named after the street on which it stands. The houses, designed a few years ago by Hans-Joerg Ruch, who is considered one of the greatest living Swiss architects, are themselves small yet significant jewels of contemporary architecture: they are shaped like diamonds, the concrete shell is dramatically marked by the construction molds and painted as if it were lightened wood, with large glass windows alternating rhythmically with normally sized windows featuring sliding closures. The roofs are steeply pitched, with no gutters. Inside one of these innovative “containers,” the apartment in question occupies the top floor and is designed as an attic, benefiting from a great influx of natural light and the romantic charm of the sharp profile of the roof’s slope.
The interior layout, which can be personalized if necessary, is simple and rational: it centers around a large open-plan living space with a conversation area adjacent to a large fireplace that creates a visual separation from the dining area. In turn, this area is directly connected to the kitchen, thanks to a carefully considered functional logic. Surrounding the living room, which includes a terrace (?), are three bedrooms, each with a bathroom equipped with a bathtub or shower tray (the bathroom also includes a bidet, a feature not to be taken for granted in Engadine), and closets or built-in wardrobes.
The windows are large, offering abundant light and extraordinary views of Engadine and its landscapes. The walls are clad in horizontally placed wooden planks, and the floors are also made of wood, with minimalist furniture lines giving the fixed furnishings a strong contemporary alpine style. The systems, including energy-efficient radiant heating, are well concealed within the architectural structure and do not interfere with the living spaces.
Also served by a communal elevator, this is a highly prized, modern, and very functional property, intelligently designed from a layout perspective, comfortable, and equipped with all the necessary digital and IT facilities.