Gasthaus Hergiswald. Guesthouse in Obernau - Gion A. Caminada

The Hergiswald (Hergis Forest) Guesthouse is set high in a wooded landscape behind Mount Pilatus. This is the secular part of a small pilgrimage site whose origins date back to a late medieval hermitage. The most important building here is the pilgrimage chapel on the lower edge of the hillside, surrounded by forest. The guesthouse is set back at a respectful distance from the chapel, with an upright aspect.

For some time now, it is not only pilgrims who come to Hergiswald. The location, sheltered by the forest and with beautiful views of the Lucerne cityscape thanks to its elevation, is often visited by hikers thanks to its good food, especially on Sundays. It is also a venue for weddings. The guesthouse aims to satisfy these uses without being subordinate to them. The building, a renovation of an old stone pilgrims' house &mdashthe backbone of the project although it is not visible from outside&mdash responds to both the local building typology and the various functions related to the design of the habitable spaces, linking them together in a whole inspired by the construction.