A major task of the foundation board, which was renewed in 1997, was the renovation and expansion of the entire property in the years 2001 to 2004. The first step was to interest ETH in an external seminar centre in Castasegna and to conclude a corresponding usage agreement. One year later, in March 2001, a study competition was held among five selected architectural firms in cooperation with the ETH and the Graubünden Heritage Society.
The contract was awarded to the "Roccolo" project by the Basel-based architectural firm Quintus Miller and Paola Maranta. In addition to the respectful restoration of the villa to its original state according to monument preservation criteria, but with a new use, their design envisaged a tower-like annex building in the highest northern corner of the property, where a stable had previously stood. The tower is based on the model of the roccoli, as they were once used for bird trapping in the Sottoceneri. Today, according to the architects' idea, the creative ideas should go online here.
On a small footprint and with an idiosyncratic pentagonal floor plan, it combines ten half-storey rooms with shower/WC, as well as meeting and study rooms for communal use as well as offices. Together with the rooms of the villa, where the richly endowed Garbald library and other common rooms are located, the complex now offers 14 guest rooms.
Rarely in recent times have "architectural additions" such as the Roccolo been made in such a coherent and convincing way and so far from any imitation and assimilation over the distance of a century and a half.
The Villa Garbald seminar centre was opened and put into operation in 2004.
At the beginning of February 2014, the architectural quality of Villa Garbald was awarded the golden nail to Paola Maranta and Quintus Miller by "Gute Bauten Graubünden 2013". Among other things, the appreciation states: "The award is given for the careful repair and further construction of an ensemble that is extraordinary in terms of both historical and local planning. It is building blocks like these that can give new impetus to geographically peripheral villages and enhance and strengthen them culturally."
Source: Fondazione Garbald
Photos: Ruedi Walti
