Athletenunterkunft Ulrichen: LAND Suisse’s competition proposal
LAND Suisse participated in the competition for the new athletes’ accommodation and housing for seasonal workers in Ulrichen (Municipality of Obergoms, Canton Valais), as landscape architect within an interdisciplinary team.
The project is located in the “Niwland” area, a former military site currently undergoing transformation into a mixed-use residential zone. The proposal responds to a sensitive alpine landscape context, positioned between the Rhône river, mobility infrastructures, and seasonal tourism networks such as cross-country skiing tracks and hiking routes.
The jury selected the proposal by schaerholzbau AG with Atelier Summermatter Ritz, for further development.
LAND Suisse contributed to a collaborative design process focused on the integration of architecture and landscape as a unified system. The concept is based on continuity between built volumes and open spaces, aiming to minimise the visual impact of the intervention and ensure a coherent insertion into the valley landscape.
The landscape design takes inspiration from the alpine environment, combining naturalistic elements with a clear spatial structure. Native vegetation, permeable surfaces, and carefully shaped topography support both ecological performance and everyday usability, while reinforcing connections to the surrounding territory.
A key element of the proposal is the “podium,” conceived as an interface between architecture and landscape. It organises access, hosts shared and technical functions, and creates protected, year-round meeting spaces, particularly relevant during winter months.
Overall, the proposal balances community life, functionality, and environmental performance, contributing to a resilient and integrated landscape system.
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