An insight into the talks that led to this website.

Victoria, when I asked you about what you think it takes to be an architect, you said: The capacity to listen and a zest for exploring. Tell us more about that.
We, as architects, should listen better. To people, to history, to nature and the landscapes around us. We need to develop a deep understanding of the environment we are about to form, its conditions and potential. Only this way we can make informed decisions and come up with ideas that provide an answer to what we hear and see and experience. I, for one, am no fan of buildings that say little more than “This is how architect XY designs their buildings.”

One of your passions is developing and realizing design concepts for the hospitality sector. Why?
Ever since humans started gathering around a fire in a cave to prepare their meals, cooking and sharing food has served as a sensual, peacemaking ritual for mankind. I love creating rooms that feel both public and private, that work well as both a workplace for a restaurant’s staff and a place to relax for their guests. And I like rooms to tell a story that is consistent with their location or the respective brand identity. When I was with YKRA Architectes in Geneva, for example, the visual design and marketing teams and I came up with a new concept for a slightly outdated brasserie that turned it into a lively meeting place.

Careful renovations and adaptations of existing structures are another focus of your work. What is it that fascinates you about this?
My interest in this field was sparked when I was working on the renovation of our family’s chalet in Zinal. Built in 1870 as the first inn of this village of 300 souls, it is full of stories and full of history. Working with an old building calls us to explore its past, to get a deeper understanding of the solutions our ancestors came up with. The details of a construction tell us how these people lived. Each time has its own language, its own vocabulary.

To me, this kind of work is like a conversation with the historic layers of a place. In transforming it, I strive to meet the demands and standards we have today and to come up with new solutions. In doing so, I am guided by a “doing more with less” approach.

What will be the most important fields of work for architects in the coming decade?
Land use planning aims at protecting the environment by stopping urban sprawl and urbanization. I see a big need for smart use of the remaining buildable ground, for adaptations of existing buildings and for redensification.

In fast-paced times and busy urban areas, nature as a place of recreation becomes even more of a luxurious commodity. Reconstructing and renovating our architectural heritage for tourism therefore is a rewarding and interesting field of work. For me, this is about shining a light on the history and beauty of a place.

Finally, as a passionate traveler that has lived in several countries, I learned the power of architecture to increase the safety and well-being of people. Transforming and improving our existing habitats is an urgent task.

In many of our conversations, you made use of the word “humility”. What exactly does it mean to you?
Humility to me as an architect means understanding that a project is not about me and that I need to be open to the process, to take it step by step. I need to listen to my client’s needs, to the building site and its stories, I need to really know a place’s DNA, topography and historic layers before I start developing ideas. I want to merge the boundaries between nature and architecture to create a warm, inviting setting for people.