Article source: Rossetti + Wyss architects

The Canton of Zurich adds a new building to its waterways engineering operations center to house vehicles and machines that serves at the same time as a workshop for carrying out detail work. The concept for the building draws on traditional agricultural construction while at the same time, so to speak, realizing a childhood dream: stacking up and layering simple wooden blocks to build an elementary structure. The workshop is made up of 36 solid wood elements. Every single element has its own structural effect, protecting the space and forming part of the whole. Everything that is necessary is there, with nothing superfluous added. The solid timber support structure is visible both inside and out. Restraint is the creative byword here. But the simplicity is anything but ordinary.

Image Courtesy © Jürg Zimmermann

• Architects: Rossetti + Wyss architects
• Project: AWEL Workshop
• Location: Andelfingen, Switzerland
• Photography: Jürg Zimmermann
• Client: Zurich Canton – Construction Department
• Building engineer: Dr. Lüchinger+Meyer Bauingenieure AG, Zurich Switzerland
• Timber construction: Erne Holzbau AG, Stein
• Electrical engineer: Zürcher Elektroplanungen AG, St. Gallen Switzerland
• Netto surface area: 475 m²
• Total timber used: 340 m³
• Execution: August 2014 – March 2015
• Year of completion: 2015

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