Hörsaalgebäude Weichenbauhalle vonRoll-Areal, Bern, 2004—2010, Competition 1st Prize

Building-in-building principle

The points construction building is a listed structure and, as a witness to the industrial past, helps to establish a balance between old and new on the vonRoll site. As part of the new lecture hall centre, the lecture hall foyer creates public routes in the centre of the future campus.


Two volumes containing seven lecture halls and 1500 seats are inserted in the points construction building in accordance with the building-in-a-building principle. The space between the preserved external walls of the old building and the sculpturally shaped insertions forms the foyer with an in-between climate. Openings in the newly inserted lecture halls allow cross views and produce a kaleidoscope of old and new spaces.


The new roofs and walls are constructed from prefabricated, highly insulated wood elements with acoustically effective claddings made from cement-bound wood composite panels, which preserve the industrial character.

Historic image: Bernhard Luginbühl, Umberto di Felice vor «Silberschwan», Künstlerwerkplatz Industrie, Artemis Verlag 1990

Reference image: Nathan Road Kowloon, Hongkong

Address

Fabrikstrasse 6, 3012 Bern

Client

Kanton Bern, Amt für Grundstücke und Gebäude AGG

Commission

Lecture hall building

Procedure

Competition 2004, 1st Prize

Planning period

2004–2010

Awards

SIA Umsicht 2011

best architects 2011

Prix Acier 2011, recognition

Die Besten 2011, recognition

Prix Lignum 2012, 2. Prize Region Mitte

Atu Prix 2012

Photography

Walter Mair, Karin Gauch/Fabien Schwartz image 3

Team

Deana Canonica, Lorenzo Giuliani, Christian Hönger, Bianca Hohl, Julia Koch, Gabriele Oesterle, Chiara Pestoni, Caroline Schönauer