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House of Switzerland
location: Sochi; Milan; Zürich
client: Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA, Präsenz Schweiz
status: Realized
project: 2014
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The House of Switzerland is a mobile building that serves a diplomatic function representing Switzerland’s professional sporting interests, traveling to various international locations. Its wooden construction displays a concurrence between traditional carpentry and state of the art timber engineering. The largely standardized construction consists of 193 elements, manifesting a clear, tectonic expression. 

Four archaic bodies are arranged around a void and interconnected by metallic locks which frame an inner courtyard. Structurally relevant red tension belts invoke associations with stacked wood or cargo. The image of a tied bundle is essential to its design concept. It symbolizes Switzerland: a country composed of diverse regions, multiple national languages and cantons. 

The dimensions of the prefabricated timber components correspond to the standardized transport system, allowing the entire assembly to be shipped in 14 trucks. On site, assembly is also highly streamlined: individual modules can be mounted on foundations, interlocked, and bolted together in less than two weeks. 

The result is a well-travelled mobile house for Switzerland: The nomadic structure has been present at significant events including the Sochi Olympic Games in 2014, Giro del Gusto in Milan 2014, and the Athletics European Championships in Zurich 2014.

moreless
facts
commission: Direct
program: Culture
size: 882 m²
team: Annette Spillmann, Harald Echsle, Barbara Springer, Katrin Zumbrunnen
consultants: Nüssli AG; Timbatec GmbH
collaboration: Ortreport
awards: German Design Award 2017; Best Architects 2016
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