Photograph by Robert Świerczyński

Illustration by Louisa Gagliardi

Architect Hermann Czech saw transformation as "an important subject in the theory of architecture; perhaps the most central after all, as, basically, everything is transformation”. The studio considers transformation as a distinct position in architecture: a way of thinking and operating on the territory, the city and the building. We will start the semester with a study trip to Lille, France, and the Flemish part of Belgium, in order to familiarise ourselves with the approaches on transformation by contemporary architects active in this region. The studio will use the knowledge acquired abroad to formulate its own positions by working on the transformation of a site in Switzerland: the Giovanola industrial plant in Monthey in the Valais. This area of 100'000m2 with about twenty industrial halls, was the headquarter of a metal construction company, specialised in pipelines, cable cars and roller coasters. Founded in 1888 by Joseph Giovanola, and active worldwide, the company closed in 2004. Since then, the City of Monthey manages the site and rents the halls. Contrary to the formulation of a purist architecture, the students will try to negotiate between the contradictions and the qualities found on site. Transformation projects present an excellent training ground for designing an architectural position that cultivates richness and complexity.

The jury of an international student competition has appointed Mathieu Hofer and Mickaël Minghetti of the EPFL to design and build the Swiss stand at the Seoul Congress. Catherine Gay coordinates the project “Swiss Room” on site on behalf of the candidature committee and the FAS Romandie. Special thanks to the Department of Architecture, Seoul University, Professors Sung Hong Kim and Jung Won Yoon, students Eun Woo Jung, Jong Hoon Jung, and Inje Yi. Special gratitude to Dong Joon Lee of the architectural firm Stocker Lee.

Open Space Connection: 20 projets d'aménagements extérieurs de Suisse romande et de Catalogne sont exposés au Jardi Botànic de Barcelone, du 5 au 15 mai 2017. Notre projet de la Place du Centenaire de Vernayaz y est présenté. Symposium au Pavillon Mies van der Rohe, le 5 mai à 14 heures, suivi par un cocktail.

"In Zusammenarbeit mit 162 Architekturbüros aus allen Landesteilen hat das S AM einen visuellen Atlas der aktuellen Schweizer Bauproduktion erstellt. Durch grossformatige Projektionen wird die Schweiz ins Museum geholt. Die Ausstellung zeigt die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede in den Themen, Inhalten und formalen Strategien, die Schweizer Architekten heute beschäftigen." sam-basel.org