Architects and Designers: Origen Festival
Location: Julier Pass, Switzerland
Year: 2026
Concept: Temporary timber structure, prefabrication, reusable construction
Photos by Stefan Kaiser
Julierbühne is a temporary theatre structure built at 2,300 metres above sea level on the Julier Pass in Switzerland. Created for Origen’s production Hannibal, the structure forms an outdoor stage within the dramatic mountain landscape, using timber to create a large-scale architectural intervention that can withstand challenging alpine conditions.
The project is particularly interesting for the way it combines the scale of a permanent building with the temporary nature of the structure. A large timber portal frame, reaching up to 18 metres in length, creates the main structural system, while the components are designed to be reused and adapted after the performance period. Built from locally sourced wood, the structure demonstrates how temporary architecture can still be carefully designed around material efficiency and long-term use.
Constructed in only a few months and assembled in changing weather conditions, including heavy snowfall during the building process, Julierbühne shows the potential of timber to create adaptable spaces in extreme environments. The wooden framework becomes both a stage for performance and a temporary landmark within the landscape, disappearing again while leaving behind a careful approach to construction and reuse.