werk, bauen + wohnen 1/3-2026 « Opposites Attract »

Opposites Attract

The icons of Swiss architecture are known for their sculptural presence and their almost -ob-sessive conceptual clarity. Buildings like the thermal baths by Peter Zumthor, the houses by Christian Kerez or the school in Paspels by Valerio Olgiati that looks as if cast in a single pour, are examples of this ideal, which was a fixed part of the discourse in the 2000s: buildings that seem monolithic and offer a controlled unity of space, material and construction.

Moving forward 20 years to the present day, we see that architecture has completed a vibe shift. Ecologically responsible building is no longer a niche issue. This has meant that many low-CO₂, regenerative materials have been -added to the palette of construction materials available. Reinforced concrete, an all-rounder that was the uncontested leader for a long time, must now share this place.

It seems that this new heterogeneity has not only been accepted but functions as a -motor for different construction methods and the expression of a new architectural language.

Equally, it has been shown that buildings do not as a result have to become more com-plicated. On the contrary, preserving the appearance of purity is often more difficult than celebrating diversity. If each material does precisely what it does best — carry, span, protect, store heat, or define — projects not only become more environmentally friendly but also richer in -design terms.

This issue forms a series with issues that research ecological structures (wbw 6 – 2023) and plant-based construction materials (wbw 4 – 2024). This time we want again to focus more on the entire range of building materials. Regenerative materials are now the new normal; the disadvantages of steel and concrete have been exhaustively discussed. Nevertheless we must take a look at them again. They are inexpensive, efficient, powerfully effective and are therefore -often (still) irreplaceable. The question is how to use them in a more focussed way, reuse them and, above all, how to combine them -intelligently.

In this issue we present projects that do this. They are constructed from materials with complementary qualities that bring out each other’s strengths and turn what might otherwise be seen as weaknesses into something positive. — Jasmin Kunst