The influence of Good air on architecture. A « Formal Cure » ? The appearance of the Alpine sanatorium in Switzerland, 1880-1914

Abstract : Beginning in 1890, the development of health tourism saw the construction of many sanatoria in the Swiss Alps. Their architects sought a kind of edifice that would be most suited to the needs of patients suffering from tuberculosis. A rational layout, sober facades, new and economical materials : these were the principal characteristics of sanatoria at the turn of the century. Around 1910, the appearance of more specific models responded to the evolution of cures, and the invention of heliotherapy in particular. One such example was the Freilufihaus, a clinic featuring stepped balconies and roof deck solaria. These architectural models prefigured the Terrassenbau of the Twenties, of which the Passy sanatoria are the most interesting examples.Lüthi Dave. The influence of Good air on architecture. A « Formal Cure » ? The appearance of the Alpine sanatorium in Switzerland, 1880-1914. In: Revue de géographie alpine, tome 93, n°1, 2005. Le bon air des Alpes, sous la direction de Claude Reichler . pp. 53-60