The Cultural and Sports Centre Saint-Blaise, Paris
Bruther
Paris-based studio Bruther, founded by Stéphanie Bru and Alexandre Theriot, has won the seventh edition of the Swiss Architectural Award.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/ts
“The three works presented by Bruther deal, with great coherence and quality, with the theme of the periphery (and specifically, the periphery of French cities), recognised as the nerve centre where the contradictions of our society manifest themselves with disruptive force,” the jury said in a statementExternal link on Thursday.
“In difficult contexts, marked by social tensions and characterised by anonymous if not degraded spaces, Bruther intervenes with an architecture characterised by a profound civic demand, which aims to restore dignity to these places and their inhabitants.”
The jury, chaired by Swiss architect Mario Botta, unanimously conferred the award for the three projects: Cultural and Sports Centre Saint-Blaise, Paris (2010-2014), the New Generation Research Centre, Caen (2013-2015) and the Residence for researchers “Maison Julie-Victoire Daubié”, Paris (2014-2018).
It said it recognised Bruther’s work as fully in line with the objectives of the Swiss Architectural Award, which aims to promote architecture that is “sensitive to contemporary ethical, aesthetic and ecological issues and can facilitate public debate”.
‘Social catalyst’
Referring specifically to the glass and concrete Cultural and Sports Centre for the Saint-Blaise neighbourhood in Paris, jury member Dieter Dietz said it embodies “the possibility of architecture to play a positive role as a social catalyst in the rehabilitation of urban critical zones”.
The innovative programming of the building and its “uncompromising architectural realisation” show the great potential that lies in the merging of social concerns and spatial intention, said Dietz, who teaches architectural design at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
Founded in 2007, the award is worth CHF100,000 ($106,000) and is given every two years to architects aged under 50 from all over the world who have completed at least three relevant works.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Zurich arbitration authority rules in favour of tenants of ‘Sugus Houses’
This content was published on
A conciliation authority says the terminations of 105 flat leases in the so-called "Sugus Houses" in the centre of Zurich were abusive. The tenants therefore do not have to move out - at least for the time being.
This content was published on
Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.
This content was published on
Despite the current tense economic situation, Swiss consumer sentiment remains positive. The Swiss spent more money in May than the previous year, particularly on restaurant visits and leisure activities, as shown by the latest figures released by PostFinance.
This content was published on
A bear killed four sheep in the Lower Engadine region near Scuol, canton Graubünden, last week. This was the first bear attack on local livestock in four years.
This content was published on
Experts believe that economic development in Switzerland will be weaker in 2026 than the forecasts made three months ago. They have also lowered their predictions for the current year.
This content was published on
Fewer people in Switzerland have a religious affiliation and the proportion who practice their religion regularly is steadily declining, a survey finds.
Study: trees have major cooling effect even in extreme heat
This content was published on
Plane trees in cities have an important cooling effect even in extreme heat, according to a new study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
EPFL launches digitised version of Battle of Murten panorama
This content was published on
To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Murten on 22 June 1476, the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has launched a website that offers the public an immersive experience of the huge panorama painting of the historic battle.
77th Swiss Gymnastics Festival praised for ‘positive energy’
This content was published on
The 77th Federal Gymnastics Festival drew to a close on Sunday in Lausanne, after eleven days of popular celebration and sporting performances.
How Swiss minimalist houses launched a new building style
This content was published on
In the 1920s, architects from the “Neues Bauen” movement began to build small, cheap houses for workers. In Switzerland, the style was controversial.
Peter Zumthor turns 75: a dip into atmospheric architecture
This content was published on
Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, known for buildings that are responsive to their location and function, is celebrating his 75th birthday.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.