In the mountain village of Zinal, located in Switzerland's Val d'Anniviers region of the Valais canton, an 18th-century chapel has been transformed into an intimate 430-square-foot guesthouse that bridges sacred heritage with modern alpine comfort. The project, completed by architecture firm Gasser Siggen Architectes SA and interior design studio Asaï, demonstrates how historic religious structures can be respectfully repurposed without erasing their spiritual character. The small building, which appears almost nestled against the imposing 11,800-foot Les Diablons mountain peak, now serves as a minimalist retreat for hikers, pilgrims, and winter sports enthusiasts seeking tranquility in the Swiss Alps.
The owners, who reside adjacent to the property, commissioned the conversion with a specific vision: create a comfortable guesthouse where the chapel's original purpose remains subtly discernible. This directive guided every design decision, resulting in the preservation of several authentic elements. The roughly hewn stone bell tower still stands proudly, now naturally integrated with a modern addition, while original stained-glass windows filter daylight into the interior. Perhaps most poignantly, the niches that once held saint figures now display coffee table books and curated ceramics, maintaining the building's vertical rhythm while serving a new function. Antoine Simonin, founder of Studio Asaï, explains that the site's spiritual aura and age demanded a certain simplicity in approach.
The interior layout follows a clear, efficient plan across two levels. The ground floor contains the living room and kitchen, while the upper floor houses the bedroom and bathroom. Simonin's design intentionally references the building's ecclesiastical past through subtle architectural gestures. The kitchen counter becomes an altar, the sink resembles a baptismal font, and the shower is bathed in divine light with a virgin blue tint. Even the cross-shaped notches in the built-in furniture reflect the sacred spirit of the original structure. "Everything invites one to approach this place with a feeling of asceticism," Simonin notes, emphasizing the meditative quality he sought to preserve.
Material selection plays a crucial role in balancing historical respect with contemporary comfort. Simonin employed Lucerne stone and old larch wood salvaged from ancient barns to anchor the interior in local Valais tradition. These aged materials contrast with contemporary accents like shimmering stainless steel and tin. The grass-green, freestanding kitchen module particularly stands out against the weathered larch cabinetry and wall paneling, creating a vibrant focal point in the otherwise muted ground floor. Upstairs, the consistent use of checked fabric from Abraham Moon combined with light larch wood creates continuity, while a tin bathtub by William Holland serves as a striking centerpiece.
Color choices reflect the surrounding landscape in subtle ways. The ground floor walls wear a natural, chalky white, allowing the green kitchen island to provide lively contrast. Upstairs, a spiritual blue evokes the glacier at the end of the valley, creating what Simonin calls "a subtle reflection of the surrounding landscape." The windows remain relatively small, a deliberate choice given the region's short daylight hours. Rather than fighting the natural darkness with artificial brightness, Simonin embraced it, illuminating specific corners and niches to preserve the location's mysterious character. "I like to accept the natural darkness of such places rather than working against it," he explains.
The bathroom exemplifies this philosophy of sacred minimalism, clad in fine Lucerne stone with walls that magically shimmer between light blue and sea turquoise. The project demonstrates that designing compact spaces requires invention and storytelling to prevent the environment from revealing everything at first glance. By limiting materials to three or four per room—with one dominant texture and others remaining discreet—Simonin achieved a cohesive concept despite the material mix. The result is a guesthouse that honors its 300-year history while providing modern comfort, proving that small spaces can deliver profound architectural experiences when designers embrace constraints as creative opportunities.
