Handmade clay brick gives Lô Dzè a distinctive presence in the historic heart of Martigny, Switzerland. Bringing together a boutique hotel, restaurants and underground Roman baths, the development uses York Handmade’s brick slips and pavers to connect contemporary architecture with the town’s Roman heritage.
Opened in March 2025, Lô Dzè sits just 30 metres from Martigny’s main square. Designed by Drip & Drip, it comprises two separate buildings arranged around a central courtyard that is open to the public. Above ground, Borsari offers 50 hotel rooms, while Kitchen 180 serves La Saucithèque bar, Le Cercle restaurant, Café Alphonse and the courtyard and terraces.
Below ground, the former Les Caves Orsat, a 19th-century winery, has been transformed into Les Bains Publics: an extensive bathing experience inspired by Roman traditions.
The relationship between these spaces was central to the choice of façade. Situated within a tightly controlled historic conservation area, the development required a carefully considered response to its surroundings. Working with the Cantonal Architect, the team selected brick to give the buildings above ground a presence that would complement the baths beneath them.
York Handmade’s EBOR Hunsingore Maxima bricks, cut into slips, provide the colour, texture and elongated proportions that underpin this approach. The façade treatment avoids prominent mortar bands, evoking ancient masonry while maintaining a contemporary architectural identity.
The material needed to make a strong impression. One section of the street-facing façade is almost entirely windowless, with only a half-moon opening at ground level. Across this substantial surface, the character of the handmade brick becomes a defining feature.
For the owner, the selection brought together practical and aesthetic considerations: “Overall, it was a winning combination of colour, form, texture and cost.”
The use of clay continues into the public courtyard, where York Handmade’s pavers define areas for circulation and al fresco dining. Together, the paving and façade create a coherent material connection between the buildings, their shared outdoor spaces and the baths below.
More than a decade in development, Lô Dzè demonstrates how handmade brick can respond to a sensitive historic setting while giving a project an identity of its own. Its Roman references are expressed through material, proportion and texture, creating a building rooted in Martigny’s history and designed for its present-day life.
Project details
- Project: Lô Dzè
- Location: 1 Avenue du Grand St Bernard, 1920 Martigny, Switzerland
- Architect/designer: Drip & Drip
- Brick manufacturer: York Handmade Brick
- Brick: EBOR Hunsingore Maxima, cut into brick slips
- Brickwork contractor: Latrapole Holding
Brick Bulletin | Feature 313
