Swiss architecture: cohabitation of historic and innovative influence
This International Week gave me an introduction to Switzerland concerning its politics, economics, and education as well an overview of its most famous company. Thanks to the presentation by Park InnovAARE, I have understood how innovation is important and it’s a leitmotif in Switzerland. I also have noticed that even if Switzerland wants to keep its heritage, for example its four official languages, the country is turned to innovation. This link between age and modernity appears also in the architecture of the cities.
How does Switzerland integrate its traditional and modern culture in its architecture?
During this week, I have observed that each city has kept its old historic center with some similarities like the fountains, the narrow streets, the colorful facades, the clocks, and the rivers which cross the cities and where people swim following the current.
Founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River, Bern developed over the centuries following an exceptionally coherent planning concept. Not many cities have managed to retain their historic features quite as successfully as Bern.
This development still remains visible in its urban structure dating from the Middle Ages: well-defined wide streets, a division of built sections, some buildings from the 18th century with their system of arcades and the facades of the houses supported by arches. The features of Bern as its picturesque fountains have been modified to reflect the modern era. However, this continual modernization was carried out by observing the need to conserve the medieval urban structure of the city. The Old City of Bern is a unique example showing a constant renewal of the built substance while respecting the original urban planning concept. That’s why the buildings in the Old City - dating from a variety of periods - belong today to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Architecture and design have also a long history in Switzerland. Swiss architects are much coveted abroad, in particular, the partnership Herzog & de Meuron. In Basel, the tallest and most distinctive building of the city has been designed for Roche by these architects.
The Roche tower which overhangs the city is a key pillar of Roche Basel’s site development strategy. With its unmistakable design, it blends in perfectly with the Basel cityscape. With 41 floors and workspace for around 2 000 employees, the office high-rise offers employees an attractive work environment and a good quality infrastructure. This new physical proximity creates excellent conditions for successful teamwork and the company’s innovative force.
To face Roche, Novartis - the global healthcare company - has created its own campus in Basel next to the French border. This campus looks like a town and everything is done to make it a place of modern and attractive work. Besides all the shops (supermarket, chemists) and facilities (kindergarten, bank, canteen, and parking lot) presented in a city, the campus is a real open museum where buildings stand alongside other buildings.
According to Novartis’s values, health is a sector in constant evolution in which knowledge and innovation have an important asset. To impose it, it’s required to offer their employees a framework promoting the exchange of knowledge, cooperation and innovation. That’s why, the CEO of Novartis has decided to build a campus designed by several well-known architects among them David Chipperfield, José Rafael Moneo, Yoshio Taniguchi and Frank Gehry. Whether outside or inside, design and modernity are everywhere. For example, guests can have a seat in different atmospheres and inspiration of lounge from all other the world (African, Indian, Middle East…). Between the shadows and lights of the building, several streets named Descartes or Currie separate the buildings and guide the employees. Besides, Novartis Campus wants to convert its quays for walkers, employees or families to take a stroll along the riverbank.
Quirk of fate, even if the Roche tower overlooks Basel, we can’t see it from Novartis campus.
Those innovations don’t only measure in medical progress but also in terms of working and life conditions: innovation is also at the heart of Novartis values.
I have already been impressed by the tremendous of Novartis campus which makes me think of an American campus from the Silicon Valley like Google. Furthermore, I have really appreciated the different cities that I have already visited in Switzerland for example Bern, Basel, Neuchâtel and Lugano. Each city has its own spirit and architecture that probably comes from the different cultures within Switzerland and is strongly influenced by its neighbors’ culture among France, Germany and Italy.
Besides its border legacy, Switzerland wants to distinguish itself by creating new innovative buildings.
Obviously, I think that the building that embodies the perfect alliance between tradition, innovation and modernity is the Museum der Kulturen in Basel (the roof has been designed by Herzog & de Meuron).
