The Rubi Fund, dedicated to preserving traditional craftsmanship, is celebrating its 45th anniversary with a special exhibition at the Museum Saanen. This exhibition showcases the fund’s work and honours its activities through photos, reports, and videos. The Rubi Fund, which has been instrumental in documenting and restoring the façades of historic buildings in the Saanenland, now looks to the future as its longstanding leaders, Stephan Jaggi and Benz Hauswirth, prepare to hand over their responsibilities to younger successors.

A birthday exhibition
The 45th anniversary exhibition at the Saanen Museum saw a gathering of enthusiastic guests. Stephan Jaggi, who has been president of the Rubi Fund committee since 1992, warmly welcomed the attendees and introduced the committee. The event was bittersweet, as it was overshadowed by the recent passing of Franziska Haldi, the museum curator who played a vital role in organising the exhibition.

“If we notice a façade worthy of restoration, we actively approach the owners,” explained architect Stephan Jaggi. While Hauswirth documents the historical aspects through photographs and analyses, Jaggi handles the technical and structural matters, including cost estimates and project management. Each property is meticulously recorded, detailing its history and restoration process.

Stories of “Old Brown Houses”
Benz Hauswirth shared insights into the evolution of inscriptions and paintings on buildings since the 17th century. Initially, only the owner’s name was carved, but over time, builders’ and, eventually, wives’ names were included. Wealthier homeowners adorned their houses with colourful patterns and significant historical events. Hauswirth likened these lavish decorations to today’s selfies, capturing the homeowners’ essence for posterity.

Transition to Younger Hands
After more than 30 years of service, Jaggi and Hauswirth are ready to pass the baton. Carpentry experts Sandro Reuteler and Martin Aellen have agreed to continue their predecessors’ work, ensuring the ongoing restoration of beautiful façades and the preservation of historically valuable buildings.

The Exhibition
The Rubi Fund’s activities are celebrated through an exhibition at the Museum der Landschaft Saanen. Visitors can explore a brief history of the building, numerous photos, detailed reports from the “Anzeiger von Saanen,” and several carvings of old Saanen houses. The exhibition also features a video documenting the restoration of numerous façades, offering a comprehensive view of the fund’s efforts.

The Legacy
Founded 45 years ago by Christian Rubi and Hedy Donizetti-Müllener, the Rubi Fund aims to restore and preserve the cultural heritage of old houses for future generations. Their dedicated work has maintained the beauty and historical significance of the region’s architecture, ensuring that the craftsmanship of the past continues to be appreciated and protected.

The exhibition can be visited during Museum Saanen’s opening hours, allowing the community to celebrate and reflect on the fund’s remarkable contributions over the past 45 years.

BASED ON AVS | VRENI MÜLLENER