Reception building Swiss Federal Institute of Agronomy Wädenswil ZH, competition 1st prize

• Competition 1st prize with Beglinger&Bryan Landscape Architects BSLA
• Building: Reception building Swiss Federal Institute of Agronomy Wädenswil ZH
• Year of construction: New building 2011, castle grounds starting at 1550
• Client: Bundesamt für Bauten und Logistik BBL
• Assignment: New reception building and square design
• Services: Planning and realization
• Project handling: Anna Hotz Semadeni, Luz Rigendinger

The Swiss Federal Institute of Agronomy, which is housed within the historic walls of Wädenswil Castle and the surrounding greenhouses, has been given a new centre in the form of the reception pavilion. The disposition of the garden and pavilion are part of the overall project, which was developed with Beglinger & Bryan landscape architects. The shape of the building develops from the terrain. The arrangement of the opposing wall wings forms an inviting gesture, similar to an open hand that opens towards the castle and garden. Thus the reception building meets the visitor with openness and transparency. The opportunity to create a building that is unheated except for the wet rooms was taken to use the respective materials according to their constructive and atmospheric properties. The statics and the construction remain readable and give the space its specific character. The pavilion is constructed from the classic building materials of wood, steel, glass and concrete. Through their surface treatment, the different materials are united into one entity.

Photography: Stefan Jäggi