Schutzbauten Welschdörfli, a shelter for the Roman archaeological ruins in Chur's Welschdörfli district, was one of Swiss architect Peter Zumthor’s first well known projects in 1986.
The project creates a small museum around the ruins of two Roman commercial buildings. It was constructed between 1985 and 1986. Two large windows are installed where the Roman entry doors were originally located.
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
The shelter halls are built almost exclusively from horizontal timber lamella that allow both light and ventilation into the museum space.
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - museum exhibition
The complex consists of three halls linked by an elevated walkway. The wooden constructions follow the irregular foundations of the ruins.
elevated walkway inside the Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - interior
The connection between the three halls is reminiscent of the connection between train wagons.
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - connection between the buildings
Skylights let the light into the museum space.
One of the skylights inside Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
It was awarded the "Auszeichnung für gute Bauten Graubünden" in 1987.
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