Rehabilitation of a former mill: a heritage and ecological renaissance

Over the decades, the Pont Farbel mill, located along a river in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, has stood as a silent witness to the industrial past. Its architecture, marked by the simplicity and robustness of ancestral craftsmanship, awaited a renaissance that would respect its roots.

The rehabilitation project was entrusted to Laurent de Wurstemberger (LDW architectes), who successfully carried it out in collaboration with Dreier Frenzel Architecture, responsible for site supervision. EYAB assumed responsibility for the general construction works. The idea was to transform the historic building into a complex of six dwellings, where every detail reflects a thoughtful approach that is at once heritage-conscious, ecological and aesthetic.

The intervention began with an in-depth reading of the original volume, long concealed beneath heterogeneous layers resulting from successive extensions. The intention was clear: to recover the soul of the building while revealing its original forms. The approach consisted of removing the superfluous layers, stripping back the volume to restore its original essence. The façade, made of local stone, retains the marks of time, while the interior opens up to a new, more appropriate and above all more promising future. Surrounded by a vast landscaped park with a wild character and composed of native species, the mill nevertheless engages in a harmonious dialogue with its environment. The vegetation, chosen for its resilience and natural beauty, contributes both to the preservation of the setting and to an ecological approach. The surrounding nature thus becomes a place for rejuvenation as well as a meeting point for residents.

The project also incorporates an essential outdoor space. It is a covered staircase located on the riverside, offering gentle, shaded access to the upper levels. This atypical place, combining collective memory and contemporary design, becomes a convivial space, a meeting point where people can exchange ideas, contemplate the surroundings or simply reconnect with nature. The dwellings, simple in their design, are carefully oriented along three axes to maximise natural light, natural ventilation and views. On the ground floor and first floor, large private terraces provide an intimate connection with the outdoors, inviting contemplation and relaxation. In addition, the larger attic apartments make use of the roof volume, revealing the majesty of the timber framework, which has been preserved and reinforced to ensure safety while respecting the authenticity of the structure.

The project is organised around a strategy of reuse and recycling, employing natural materials while prioritising durability and integration into the landscape. The roof, preserved in its original condition, benefits from targeted reinforcements to ensure structural safety. The joists, carefully dismantled, have been reused for certain floors, terraces and outdoor fittings. The recovery of old doors, sourced from a construction site in Estavayer-le-Lac, gives the spaces a historic patina, an atmosphere imbued with memories. Travertine slabs from the demolition of the Kempinski Hotel in Geneva have been incorporated into the terrace floors, bringing authenticity and nobility.

Raw and natural materials form the framework of this renaissance. The central load-bearing walls made of compressed earth blocks contribute to the natural regulation of humidity, creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Clay plasters applied to the interior partitions reinforce this regulating capacity and give the whole a warm texture. The insulation of the old enclosure wall, using a lime-cork insulating render, combines tradition and modernity for optimal thermal performance. The kitchens, made of locally sourced spruce with a stained finish, are treated with natural oils, promoting durability and the health of residents. Every element has been meticulously studied and carefully selected to reduce environmental impact while providing superior thermal and hygrometric comfort. It should be noted that the high thermal inertia helps limit energy consumption, making each dwelling autonomous and ecological. Contemporary comfort cleverly intersects with the principles of vernacular architecture to achieve an exceptional result. Indeed, the project goes beyond simple heritage conservation to become a work of renewal, a symbiosis between past and present, tradition and innovation. The architectural gesture, as sensitive as it is refined, offers users an environmentally respectful habitat imbued with subtle poetry, where every element tells a story. The rehabilitation of the mill thus becomes an ode to collective memory, an example of sustainability and respect for heritage, while addressing contemporary challenges of comfort, ecology and quality of life. It should also be noted that the project was shortlisted for the Jury Prize of the Students’ Association of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA). It stands as a valuable example that brilliantly responds to the theme “Transformation, Reinventing the Existing” of the next edition of the ARCHITECT@WORK event for French-speaking Switzerland, which will take place at Beaulieu Lausanne on 30 September and 1 October 2026.

All images: @ Brian Scott Adkins