Nov 7
2025

The fountain is 7 m long.The fountain made of one piece of Rorschach sandstone.

The two residential buildings for the “Haus der Freunde“ (Haus of Friends) in the town of Buchs in eastern Switzerland have already attracted considerable attention. Carlos Martinez Architects have implemented the concept of natural building materials in a very radical way: In the “Wood“ house, wooden construction elements are the defining material, while in the “Clay“ house, rammed earth elements are used around a staircase core made of recycled concrete. In both cases, modular construction with prefabricated elements was used. Fast construction allows for reduced costs.

Artificial materials were also avoided in the interior. Reeds, lime plaster, and wood, among others, create a pleasant atmosphere.

Now the residential complex has acquired a superlative: There is an almost monumental fountain made of natural stone. It is 7 m long, 1.2 m wide, and 60 cm high. The shape is a simple, elongated cuboid.

The “Clay” house with its rammed earth façade.

It was crafted from a single piece of Rorschach sandstone, which presented challenges for Bärlocher Steinbruch und Steinhauerei AG, a company experienced in such projects: A special transporter was required to transport the 25-ton block, and the fountain had to be carved by hand because it was too large for the CNC milling machine.

The monuemntal piece lost almost half its weight during the machining process, bringing its total weight to 13 tons.

Natural stone characterizes the outdoor areas.Natural stone characterizes the outdoor areas.

While the stone on the inside of the basin is honed, the rough surface of the raw block has been deliberately preserved on the outside. This, together with the almost perfectly straight sedimentation, creates a vibrant contrast that conceals the monumentality of the object.
Natural materials also dominate the outdoor area surrounding the two residential buildings: The steps are made of natural stone, as are the paving stones for the path.

The Bärlocher company has made a name for itself not only in architecture, but also in gardening and landscaping. A website showcases some of the fountains the company has built for Hans-Jakob Bärlocher in recent years. His son, Christian, has since taken over the group.

Bärlocher Steinbruch und Steinhauerei AG

Carlos Martinez Architekten (German)

Photos: Bärlocher AG

The fountain is 7 m long.