Gstaad House in Switzerland is a new project by Foster + Partners, which has recently been granted planning permission, according to the studio website. The whole territory covers about 3,000 square meters in the picturesque surroundings of the Canton of Bern.
The building made of timber will house an art exhibition, an auction space, some fine art galleries, and a members-only social club on the top floor. The collections presented by the House promise to suit the tastes of art, fashion, and car lovers at once.
The Foster + Partners initiative comes as a pioneering attempt to build up-to-date display and storage facilities in the area. As the studio architect Kirsten Scott says, Gstaad House is designed to be seen from the road thanks to its larch facade, which produces panoramic views and imbues the spaces with natural light. Besides, the contour of the building replicates the landscape profile; Swiss mountains and winding roads are echoed through the flat roof and the sloping facade of the House.
The internal structure of Gstaad House is simple yet efficient. While the ground floor functions as an exhibition hall and hosts public events, the higher floors are meant to display private gallery collections. In summer, the doors of the House can be opened to extend and connect its space with the vast natural surroundings. However, all the galleries in Gstaad House are safely climate-controlled, so one should not worry about frost or heat.
The Foster + Partners initiative comes as a pioneering attempt to build up-to-date display and storage facilities in the area. As the studio architect Kirsten Scott says, Gstaad House is designed to be seen from the road thanks to its larch facade, which produces panoramic views and imbues the spaces with natural light. Besides, the contour of the building replicates the landscape profile; Swiss mountains and winding roads are echoed through the flat roof and the sloping facade of the House.
The internal structure of Gstaad House is simple yet efficient. While the ground floor functions as an exhibition hall and hosts public events, the higher floors are meant to display private gallery collections. In summer, the doors of the House can be opened to extend and connect its space with the vast natural surroundings. However, all the galleries in Gstaad House are safely climate-controlled, so one should not worry about frost or heat.
Finally, having climbed up to the penthouse, the guests are introduced to the opportunity to become Gstaad House private members. Among the benefits are beautifully furnished lounges, a panoramic roof deck, and a personal dining room to host special events.
NB: in 2025, the studio’s founder, Norman Foster, is celebrating his 90th birthday. The English architect known for his steel-and-glass structures is a winner of Stirling Prize, Pritzker Architecture Prize, and other prestigious professional awards.
He founded the firm in 1967, back then it was called Foster Associates. Over the span of almost 70 years, the studio has introduced hundreds of groundbreaking architectural insights into different parts of the world and even the universe (in 2012, the studio designed Lunar Habitation located in Space). Among the most prominent and probably most impressive of Foster + Partners ‘terrestrial’ projects are Reichstag (Germany, 1999), the Gherkin a.k.a. 30 St Mary Axe (UK, 2003), Beijing Capital International Airport (China, 2008), Zayed National Museum (UAE, 2020), and some others. Currently Foster + Partners project base includes more than 450 buildings.
NB: in 2025, the studio’s founder, Norman Foster, is celebrating his 90th birthday. The English architect known for his steel-and-glass structures is a winner of Stirling Prize, Pritzker Architecture Prize, and other prestigious professional awards.
He founded the firm in 1967, back then it was called Foster Associates. Over the span of almost 70 years, the studio has introduced hundreds of groundbreaking architectural insights into different parts of the world and even the universe (in 2012, the studio designed Lunar Habitation located in Space). Among the most prominent and probably most impressive of Foster + Partners ‘terrestrial’ projects are Reichstag (Germany, 1999), the Gherkin a.k.a. 30 St Mary Axe (UK, 2003), Beijing Capital International Airport (China, 2008), Zayed National Museum (UAE, 2020), and some others. Currently Foster + Partners project base includes more than 450 buildings.
The construction period of Gstaad House has not been announced yet. Find more details about the project on the Forster + Partners studio website.
Contributor: Julia Kryshevich
Cover photo: Foster + Partners