Architect: Valerio Olgiati
Location: Scharans, Switzerland
Collaborators: Nathan Ghiringhelli (project manager office Olgiati), Nikolai Müller, Mario Beeli
Client: Linard Bardill, musician + poet
Structural Engineer: Patrick Gartmann, partner of Conzett, Bronzini, Gartmann AG, Chur
Project Area: 285 sqm
Project Year: 2006-2007
Photographs: Courtesy of Valerio Olgiati

The Atelierhouse Bardill replaces an old barn in the protected centre of the village Scharans. The building permission was granted by the local authorities only under the condition that the new building would have exactly the same volume as the old barn. Read the rest of this entry »

Architect: Nimmrichter CDA Architects
Location: Suburbs of Zurich, Switzerland.
Project members: Rolf Carl Nimmrichter, Dennis Clayton Matthiesen
Site management: Knecht Baumangement, Schlieren
Timber construction: Hector Egger, Langenthal
Interior: Teo Jakob Colombo, Zurich
Year: Commission: 2007, Implementation: 2008
Images: Bruno Helbling, Zurich

In a Zurich municipality, better known for its industrial and shopping facilities, nimmrichter cda compiled a study dealing with the long term development of a plot of land with an existing building on site.  A comprehensive survey of various factors revealed the plot’s development potential for the next generation. Competing against a modular house manufacturer, the unconventional design submitted by Rolf Nimmrichter’s architecture office was awarded the commission. Read the rest of this entry »

Architects: Peter Zumthor
Collaborators: Marc Loeliger, Thomas Durisch and Rainer Weitschies
Location: Graubunden Canton, Switzerland
Project completed: 1996

In April 2009, about two weeks before his 66th birthday, Swiss architect Peter Zumthor was named the 2009 laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Zumthor is not a household name, as many other Pritzker winners have been — architects such as Gehry, Meier, and Pei. Even many architects haven’t heard of him. But Zumthor has been described as an “architect’s architect.” His works are not numerous, given a practice of over 30 years, but each one is carefully crafted, materially exquisite, and atmospherically evocative. Read the rest of this entry »