Community Centre Seltisberg

Freely placed rural structures along historical access roads shape the image of Seltisberg. The schoolhouse from a phase with a traditional Swiss-chalet style appears as a dominant, public structure. The centre will be reinforced through an extension of the school and a new community hall. The hall must also be suitable for sacral functions.

Two equal-size structural volumes expand the existing school. Orthogonal settling identifies the site urbanistically and allows for the creation of a public centre with a sequence of squares with different qualities. A long fountain borders the complex from the street.  The new gabled buildings adapt to the surroundings in terms of size and grain. Through minimal formulation, they can also be seen as special structures. Oversize volumetric awnings above the entrances straddle the interstitial spaces. Open at the bottom, they create raised anterooms in front of the buildings. By sculpturally exaggerating the simple architectural archetype, they play on the “decorated shed” theme ( Robert Venturi ).

The outer forms are plain. Installations in the interior lead to plastic formulation and sculptural qualities. Roof and facade are marked by homogenous colour and material coordination. Signal colours and perforated shutters of anodized aluminium generate a fresh atmosphere. The shutters’ pattern recalls that of punched cards for old inkle weaving looms, a craft with a long tradition in Seltisberg. Large awnings form separate volumes and identify the entrances. In the interior, unfinished concrete generates a strong material presence. The homogenous appearance is superimposed with light reflections from the greenish yellow shutters. Whitish glazed inlays in the wood match the colour of the outer skin.