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](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/576ea277-2b25-4886-98dc-3c280bcbad61_rw_1920.jpg?h=e8b087a252c1fe6b7bc4fd65d9545ce3)
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
![Schutzbauten Welschdörfli](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/b73b8f55-9ae1-456d-95db-ce918e4d9003_rw_1920.jpg?h=a6937f37a09534424e32cfefc362d8af)
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](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/1ffc3740-9648-49d7-9fbe-c204d98e7e98_rw_1920.jpg?h=7bae681c17149cfed33c99bb2cbffbcc)
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](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/9587059a-63f5-410d-ad99-0de8768097a9_rw_1920.jpg?h=20f133956ab48b8369b1a7089df7ed21)
elevated walkway inside the Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
![Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - interior](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/bfa37d8e-1357-4873-a738-25156a012bc4_rw_1920.jpg?h=535b224c6cd2662b114609d491952695)
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - interior
The connection between the three halls is reminiscent of the connection between train wagons.
![Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - connection between the buildings](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/7e12b6d2-6107-4c40-9741-550e2ef59098_rw_1920.jpg?h=cc04162a056d6a29f1d9e7f427ab029b)
Schutzbauten Welschdörfli - connection between the buildings
Skylights let the light into the museum space.
![One of the skylights inside Schutzbauten Welschdörfli](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/6573dc27-a3f2-4c02-9596-c35fa86b5d13_rw_1920.jpg?h=d85cb3dde07576f2282307606f8fa9dd)
One of the skylights inside Schutzbauten Welschdörfli
It was awarded the "Auszeichnung für gute Bauten Graubünden" in 1987.
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