Interview: Architekt Mario Botta entwirft das Mineralbad & Spa Rigi ...

The project at a glance
The mineral baths at Rigi Kaltbad
are located under the newly constructed
village square, Mario Botta’s
“Giardino”. On one side the
square is bounded by the future location
of the railway station, while
on the other side it is shaped by a
distinctively rounded tower, which
serves as the entrance to the bathing
complex below and also leads
to the summit station of the aerial
cableway to Weggis. The new village
square is also marked by several
prominent lights, which rise
out of the ground and are reminiscent
of Alpine crystals. During the
day, these glass crystals help bring
natural light to the bathing facilities
below, while in the evening they
illuminate the square as sparkling
objects.
The mineral baths have been designed
as a place of peace and
tranquillity, allowing visitors to simply
relax and leave behind the worries
of everyday life. Through Mario
Botta’s calm design, the baths invoke
a contemplative, almost sacred
atmosphere. During the day,
guests may enjoy the magnificent
views of the surrounding mountains,
which unfold from both the
interior and exterior pools, while at
night the soft light and atmospheric
illumination from the sparkling
crystals lend an almost mythic
quality to the bathing experience.
The warm water from the “Three
Sisters’ Fountain” and the cove-like
setting created by the different
rock walls only further add to the
unique ambience.
One floor beneath the mineral
baths is the spa, which is only
open to adults. What makes this
facility special?
The entire spa section has a more
private atmosphere than the mineral
baths do. Here you will find
InTERVIEW
Die ganze Struktur besteht aus drei Materialien: Holz, Naturstein und Wasser. Photo Rigi Kaltbad
The entire structure consists of three different materials: wood, natural rock and water.
a massage room, but also Turkish
baths and several saunas. Truly
extraordinary is the crystal bath,
which is illuminated with light
through a translucent roof. It is
like a meditation chamber filled
with water.
Speaking of meditation and spirituality,
the owner of the mineral
baths has described Rigi Kaltbad
as a sacred and contemplative
place, where one may forget the
worries of everyday life and remember
that in the past it even
was a pilgrimage destination. Do
these descriptions fit?
It is one of the great attributes of
architectural works that often they
may take on symbolic or metaphoric
values, which exceed their
actual function. I cannot say if this
applies to these baths. I have simply
tried to do my best for this
project, which in essence is a subterranean
project, because only
one tower juts out, like a box. What
really fascinated me was the relationship
of the building with the
surrounding landscape and the
mountains. The piazza lies there
like horizontal Mondrian painting,
as it engages the surrounding
Alpine scenery.
Do you personally like to bathe?
I am not really a water rat, but feel
more connected to earth. If my
ankles get wet, I feel as if I am
already lacking enough air to
breathe. But as an architect, one
frequently comes into contact with
activities which one otherwise
would not pursue personally. That
is completely normal.
You live and work in Mendrisio,
in the Ticino, at the foot of Monte
Generoso. Many people have labeled
Monte Generoso “the Rigi of
the Ticino”, due to its magnificent
views. Will you now think about
the real Rigi more often?
Honestly, I have to admit, that I
have not yet considered such a correlation.
Monte Generoso is the last
great panoramic mountain in southern
Switzerland. Such a comparison
to Mount Rigi and Central Switzerland,
however, is fascinating.
Bordmagazin 23