Michael Meier und Marius Hug Architekten . photos: © Roman Keller
The tranquil little town of Mels lies at the foot of the Gonzen, on the banks of the Seez and in the direct neighbourhood of Sargans. The Stoffel textile factory, built between 1867 and 1874, towers high above Mels. It was powered by the mountain stream and provided jobs in the textile industry for over a hundred years. After a fire and several changes of ownership, the industrial wasteland was auctioned off in 2007. Thanks to a competition won in 2013, the venerable factory halls were renovated and extended. Between 2016 and 2022, a neighbourhood with 250 new flats was created with conversions and new buildings.
An inclined lift leads from the bottom of the valley up to the factory. Various extensions and factory buildings once bore witness to the flourishing business. What remains are the imposing factory halls of the weaving and spinning mill, as well as the former collecting basin and the oil tank for generating electricity. The latter are now a natural pool and a sauna. In the former, the characteristic steel columns have been preserved thanks to precise interventions with concrete flat partition walls and staircases. The industrial atmosphere of the factory halls, the open-plan living in deep layouts, the enormous room heights and the large windows with fine mullions have been transferred to the residential halls.
Towards the valley, the factory retained its face and was supplemented with two new buildings (Öffnerei and Färberei). On the slope side, the new residents benefit from the surroundings, the mountains and the Seez thanks to dormer windows and cantilevered balconies. Just like the textile factory and the whole of Mels once did.
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Competition: 2013
Realisation: 2016–2023
Client: Alte Textilfabrik Stoffel
Planners:
General planning: Ralbau AG, Chur
Landscape architect: Müller Illien Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH Civil engineer: Conzett Bronzini und Partner AG, Chur
HVAC and sanitary planning: EBP Schweiz AG, Zürich / Technoplan AG, Sargans Electrical planning: Inelplan AG, Buchs
Building physics: BWS Bauphysik AG, Winterthur
