Campus Bern

0260Campus Bern
University of Applied Sciences

As a free form, the new university is well-integrated into its hetero­ge­neous sur­round­ings, which include the motor­way and a sports facility, rail­way lines and a residen­tial quarter, the Stadt­bach and an indus­trial area. With outer spaces that have been given varied designs, the complex responds to its dis­similar neigh­bours, gener­ating places on the parcel that feature superior amenity qualities for the popu­la­tion as a whole.

The build­ing is elevated, leaving an open ground floor level for inter­actions between students, employ­ees, and visitors. The entrance level is situated in a contin­uous, closed pedestal level. Because of the slop­ing site, this level disap­pears entirely into the terrain on the east side, while attain­ing a height of 3 meters along the western facade. The entrance is reached via a spa­cious flight of stairs.

Floating above the ground floor are the four rings of the uni­ver­sity. By virtue of the inter­polated, glazed joints of the circu­lation zones, they are clearly legible from the out­side. They con­tain the main circu­lation areas. Court­yards have been incised into all four volumes, forming large halls on the ground floor, provid­ing abun­dant illumina­tion on all levels, and provid­ing enthralling views from the upper levels.

The new build­ing is based on an intelli­gent combi­na­tion of solid and timber construc­tion.