The additively organised operational procedures of Switzerland’s largest garage operation are reflected in the building’s elongated structure. It seamlessly integrates itself into the broader context of the resident \”Empa – Materials Science and Technology\” research institute and its large-scale structures – a first step towards the further densification of the Giessen site. In addition, the new building serves as a noise barrier for residential buildings on the southern side against the busy Überlandstrasse.
Competition, Zurich 2014; 3rd place: The almost-lakeside Mythenschloss is located as an urban component within a mixture of stone, neoclassical buildings and modern glass cubes. Although its location marks an interface between the city square and the water, the structure is identical on both sides – the Mythenquais and Alfred-Escher-Strasse. The concept aims to correct this lack of differentiation and have differentiated sides.
Precisely positioned in the urban context, the building with its clear cubic lines easily fits into the existing cluster of industrial and office buildings, and forms an architecturally sophisticated urban component for implementing the “Glattpark” idea.
Developed after winning an architectural competition in 2010, the new fire department in Pratteln was completed in October 2013, after nearly one year of construction. The flat new building is located in the town’s western periphery, where residential and commercial areas overlap. Like the appropriate component, the latest addition to this loose network of heterogenous blocks integrates well into the surrounding greenery. The simple but efficient internal organization sets the tone for its outward appearance.
Competition, Dübendorf 2015; first place: By continuing the existing development pattern – four staggered elongated structures – the new building sharpens the differentiation of the outer space. It thereby enhances the existing ensemble character and gives rise to a series of sheltered schoolyards.
Kreuzbühl School, renovated and extended in summer 2015, is centrally located next to Stadelhofen railway station. The surrounding neighbourhood is characterised by the relinquishment of conventional blocks.
Solduno is a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the historical centre of Locarno, southern Switzerland. I grew up a few steps from here, in an area of eclectic early 20th century bourgeois mansions and brick condos from the 1960s. Today most of those early-to mid 20th century buildings, have given way to more recent anonymous edifices.
The Wallisian Alps rise in silhouette above the new Vouvry district school house, which lies on a flat plain between historic Vouvry village and the Rhone river. Larger-than-life commercial structures have long defined the character of settlements along the Rhone valley, and this new construction – which accommodates both classrooms and a sports arena under one roof – fits the mold perfectly.
The school’s extension responds clearly and confidently to the large neighbouring buildings. A new entrance gives onto a spacious multi-storey hall. The group rooms are stacked one atop the other and can be read as simple boxes in the airspace, resulting in interesting sightlines. The administrative and special use rooms are located on both the lower level and ground floor, while the upper storeys hold the classrooms. The building is constructed of natural, robust materials that already have a lovely patina and are able to withstand a high degree of wear. The façade and some corridor areas are made of concrete. The classroom walls are lined with acoustic panels that double as bulletin boards. The ceiling has been left raw and can be used for heat storage. With this extension of the school’s classroom tract, a compact building has been created with short routes and an interesting central area suitable for a variety of uses.
Located in Delémont’s city center and next the train station, the office building Polyadès is located in a particular urban situation. In between roads and rails, its shape responds to the constrains of its surrounding.
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