Uniting aesthetics and functionality
Project Caumasee Restaurant
Facts & Figures
Year of construction: 2023
Building owner: Municipality of Flims
Region: Imboden, Graubünden
The new restaurant by the historic spa and bathing lake is a remarkable timber construction that blends seamlessly into its protected natural surroundings, opening up new alternatives to classic winter tourism offers in the evolving Alpine environment. Careful consideration was given to the delicate balance between water, forest and rocky landscape. The forest serves not only as a scenic backdrop, but also as a local source of building materials – especially for the load-bearing structure.
To ensure the building can operate throughout the year, the façade incorporates folding and sliding elements. These features create a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor spaces and allow for flexible adaptation to seasonal demands and changing weather conditions. Shading plays a key role here, and Schenker Storen was commissioned to develop a suitable solution. The aim was to complement the building’s high-quality architecture while also supporting year-round use in an Alpine setting.
Both elegant and wind-stable
Several factors were crucial in finding the right solution: The blind system had to be as discreet as possible to enhance the architectural design. For this reason, a frictionless cable system with slim guide elements was selected. At the same time, the restaurant operates all year round at an altitude of around 1,000 metres above sea level in the Flims high valley, where it is often exposed to severe weather. A counter-tension system was therefore preferred, along with wind-stable fabric with a covering made from premium “Elements Solids” acrylic fibre. The horizontally retractable system was installed onto a substructure provided by the client, which was custom-built to match the dimensions of the blind system.
A rare type of blind
Fabric blinds with counter-tension systems are a rarity – examples can be seen at Zurich Airport and the Swatch headquarters in Biel. Their advantage: The built-in counter-tension mechanism keeps the fabric taut in any position, thanks to a pre-tensioned spring barrel. This applies whether the blind is installed horizontally, vertically, or at an angle. Such blinds are ideal for buildings where high wind stability and consistently taut fabric are essential – particularly in exposed locations with large window surfaces.
A shading solution worth seeing
Anyone visiting Flims and taking a walk to the restaurant by Lake Cauma will discover not only a lake that’s become an Instagram sensation thanks to its striking turquoise hue, but also a truly rare and remarkable example of modern shading.
