Normafa Ski House Renovation: Restoring 1930s Heritage with a Contemporary Pavilion

Through its layout and the natural aging of its larch shingles, the pavilion will gradually harmonize with the historic Ski House, forming a unified architectural composition.

About Normafa Ski House

The locally protected heritage building, the Normafa Ski House, was constructed between 1930 and 1931. While preserving the unity of the main façade and the overall massing of the building, the restaurant function was planned based on the layout and structure of the original interior spaces.

The service areas were concentrated at the ends of the side wings, with their boundaries positioned almost identically to those in the original plans, while the public spaces were placed in the central, most prominent part of the building and the adjacent side areas. The central terrace was transformed into an outdoor space with the aim of reconstructing the building’s original 1930s appearance.

Using the proportions of the central wing as a reference, the new forest pavilion was connected to the Ski House’s public areas through a sequence of axial spaces, further expanding the building’s functional possibilities.

With its exposed wooden structure, wood shingle cladding, floating form, and object-like appearance, the pavilion does not attempt to mimic the mountainous, “mountain villa” character of the Ski House. Instead, it reflects the more relaxed and natural atmosphere of the valley and surrounding forest. Its retractable glass walls make the structure almost entirely transparent and permeable during the summer months.

Although seemingly the complete opposite of the original Ski House in many respects, the pavilion — through its layout and the natural, silvery-gray aging of its larch shingles — will gradually harmonize with the historic building, forming a unified architectural composition over time.

With its exposed wooden structure, wood shingle cladding, floating form, and object-like appearance, the pavilion does not attempt to mimic the mountainous, “mountain villa” character of the Ski House. Instead, it reflects the more relaxed and natural atmosphere of the valley and surrounding forest.