EAST-WEST, Bern
2022, 3. Rang
The former fire department barracks were built in 1935/36 by Hans Weiss and extended in 1957 by the same architect with a hall building. Until the fire department moved out at the end of 2014, the facility served the active fire department. The project East-West with two clever new buildings lead the fire department Victoria in old splendor into the future. The project won the 3rd place.
The east-west project complements the existing buildings with two parallel, almost identical structures, differing only in their storeys. This spatially ties the courtyard space of the fire department with the green outdoor space of the neighboring residential development. Between the two properties, along the fence, the design team proposes a filter of newly planted columnar oaks, under which a large part of the uncovered bicycle parking will be placed. The courtyard is accessible in a natural way from the east and west via alleys between the existing and new buildings and along the property line in the north.
The architectural design of the new buildings is too much oriented to the existing buildings and thus obscures the effect and presence of the protected core building.
Architecture:
Werkgruppe agw, Bern with Studio Barina, Vienna
Collaboration Alexander Barina, Simon Gysel, Lorenz Frauchiger, Sonja, Wille, Hermann Gysel, Tobias Etter, Stefan Gysel, Roland Juker
Timber construction engineer:
Timbatec Holzbau Schweiz AG, Bern: Lukas Rüegsegger