Piazza Gottardo

Piazza Gottardo stands on historic ground. After the glaciers retreated, a lake formed here, into which scree and debris were deposited over thousands of years. Later, river deposits from the Reuss were added. Whilst the centre of Andermatt is built on solid rock, modern technology now enables stable construction in Andermatt Reuss – the buildings stand on a so-called ‘podium’, an underground car park structure.

The history of the place could have taken a different course: in the 1920s and 1930s, there were plans to flood the Ursern Valley with a dam. However, thanks to the determined resistance of the local population, these projects were halted. Otherwise, Piazza Gottardo would today lie beneath the water’s surface.

Architecture around the Piazza

Today, the Piazza is characterised by modern architecture. Particularly striking is the Alpenrose apartment block, designed by the Zurich-based architectural firm Baumberger & Stegmeier. The striking colour scheme of the façade is inspired by the historic Tellspielhaus and Tell monument in Altdorf and adds an exciting touch to the townscape. A particular highlight are the shutters of the Alpenrose building. They feature fragments of historical Alpine paintings. Instead of complete images, only individual elements such as rocks, animals or figures are deliberately depicted – a detail that only becomes apparent upon closer inspection.