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Three Swiss Palaces for Multilateralism:
Present, Past and Future

By Evelina Rioukhina and Ash Charlton

This article was originally inspired by the work cold winds to give an enhanced microclimate.
of the world-renowned British architect Lord This is a contemporary interpretation of the
Foster, who kindly shared the beautiful renders thick walls and deep windows of the Engadin
for his planned wooden, energy-efficient valley, designed to minimise heat loss. The
construction in Switzerland. This inspiring building will be made of local materials and
‘palace in the snow’ inspired thoughts about covered in larch shingles.
our existing Palais, and about a possible future
one. This article is about all three. The low-rise structure has a contoured
roofscape with skylights as well as renewable

To start with the star of the show, Lord Foster. energy generation systems. Along with the
A year ago we paid a visit to his Chesa Futura building’s energy efficient systems, these will
in St Moritz (article in Diva 2/2021), but when generate a third of total energy demand. At
we learnt that he is planning not just a building, the project’s heart is the ‘village square’ – an
but a whole hub mini-city, we had to learn amphitheatre gathering space, on top of which
more about it. On his recent visit to Geneva will be a distinctive rooftop café and terrace

he kindly supplied us with his initial renders. overlooking the valley.
These incredible images are shared with you
below, as well as details of the project and our La Punt is an innovative “third place”: not
own thoughts about it. home, not office, but somewhere a person
can both live and work when they need to.
The new project is called La Punt. It will be It is an old idea, but during the pandemic we
built in Chamues, Grisons, and will be a could see how vital it might be. Teleworking
centre for innovation, creating new jobs and from home showed us that other ways of
revitalising local products, as well as promoting work were possible, so why not improve these
collaboration between locals, tourists, start-ups and make them sustainable? Work breaks
and universities. The 6,000 square metre space to environments like La Punt could benefit
will include work and seminar spaces, sports employees and employers.
facilities, retail shops and a restaurant, as well
as underground car parking. Spending a month or two in the mountains,
close to nature, would benefit morale, health
The design is inspired by the landscape and local and well-being, especially for desk workers.
architecture, with a protective wall blocking Establishing fixed working hours while taking

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