Description

On the Bächtelen site on the outskirts of Bern, a new residential quarter is being built that takes it cue from its varied surroundings and makes heterogeneity its defining principle. Based on an initial market analysis, five key themes were identified: living with a view, living around a courtyard, living amidst a grove of trees, living with a patio and living with a balcony. The site was then divided into five building plots, each with a corresponding theme from which a set of rules were derived to serve as a basis for the new buildings to enter into a dialogue with their surroundings.

Buchner Bründler architects from Basel responded to the theme of “Living with a view” with an amorphous design for a residential tower that defies clear typological classification. Completed in 2016, the tower stands on a polygonal footprint and is characterised by cantilevered concrete slabs that open onto the landscape in all directions. Diamond-shaped metal netting encloses the structure, over which a “garden” should grow that will act as a vertical shading device for the living areas within. The planting is coordinated with the structure of the building and its orientation. “Window” openings are cut into the net and framed by large metal brackets.

The floor plans are open and oriented outwards, bounded only by the open gallery around the building. The first four floors contain apartments for rent while the upper floors are owner-occupied.

Originally published in Bauwelt 19.2017, pp. 50-51, abridged and edited for Building Types online, translated by Julian Reisenberger

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