Single-Family Timber House in Rigi Built with WALCO V

In the Swiss mountain village of Rigi Kaltbad, a unique single-family house project highlighted the flexibility of prefabricated timber construction. At an altitude of 1,450 meters, the site was inaccessible to trucks. This required a carefully planned helicopter transport of prefabricated wall elements, making logistics one of the most critical parts of the build.

The project was delivered by Die Holzwerkstatt Matthias Ebi together with Schweizer Naturhaus CH-Koblenz and supported by Ingenieurbüro Rotkamm for structural engineering. The house was designed as a low-energy building in line with Swiss standards.

Key highlights:

Helicopter logistics: Prefabricated wall and roof elements were flown directly to the site, saving time and avoiding risks linked to rail delivery.
High level of prefabrication: Walls, roof, balcony railings, and stair elements were produced off-site and ready for rapid installation.
WALCO V connectors: Provided a secure and precise wall connection system, enabling crews to assemble and stabilize each wall immediately after placement.
Energy efficiency: The building features a U-value of 0.15 W/(m²K) for the walls and 0.17 W/(m²K) for the roof, with triple-glazed windows adapted for high-altitude conditions.
Integrated systems: Heating is supplied through a wood stove connected to the central heating system. A large balcony-mounted solar array provides hot water in summer.

The Rigi house demonstrates how KNAPP’s WALCO V system enables efficient prefabricated timber construction even in extreme and logistically challenging environments.