Exploring the Divergent Forces of
Swiss Architecture
Exploring the Divergent Forces of Swiss Architecture _ Anna Roos
Swiss architecture has a reputation for conveying quality and integrity. This status has been earned over centuries through generations of craftsmanship and engineering. Architecture in Switzerland displays an attention to detail, an intimate knowledge of materials and construction, and an ability to innovate within a specific historical and cultural context.
The culture of architecture in Switzerland and the divergent forces that propel the production of well-designed and well-executed buildings will be assessed in this essay. How do the current generation of Swiss architects draw on their rich architectural heritage, whilst at the same time gain inspiration from the latest tools that technology has to offer? How are age-old building techniques used and reinterpreted in a modern context? To what extent does the use of natural resources play a role in construction? The exploration of these questions reveals an intricate interplay of forces that have resulted in a collection of powerful buildings whose influence radiates beyond the confines of the small, landlocked country.
New Community Library
Planning the New Library _ Tom Van Malderen
The projects presented within this chapter provide an opportunity to have a closer look at the ever-changing meaning of the library, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Community libraries have come a long way from their former cliché image of an old building with dimmed light and endless rows of heavy wooden bookshelves. Their role is extending rapidly alongside steady major shifts in societal and technological environments, as well as the increasing array of community needs, custom and services. New libraries are progressively seen as pivotal to place making civic identity and cultural revitalisation. They also announce a new mind-set in taking responsibility for the stability of nature, health of library users and staffs, and catering for the needs and interest of future generations of users. And remarkably, the four presented projects all profited from the fact that globalisation has been accompanied by a growing quest for local identity and meaning, allowing these projects to show a comprehensive range of answers for the planning and delivering a successful community library.
