For over a decade now, Gmür & Geschwentner Architekten have worked in the area of urban residential development. Exploiting their keen intuition for context and for the needs of users, they design buildings tailored to specific locales, each characterized by two principal traits: a conspicuous delight in narrating the residential biography of the respective town, and a sensual approach to color in space. Through selected works, the exhibition “Secrets of Dwelling: What Drives the Hermit Crab into the Cozy Sanctum?” suggests how residential development can be straightforward and functional on the one hand, yet individualistic and personalized on the other.
One focus of the presentation is the residential project “James“ in Zürich-Albisrieden, composed of three contrasting volumes and situated on the premises of the former Arbenz Truck Factory. The building was named for a real person, namely the James who offers concierge and other services – ranging from a snack service, to plant watering, to dog-sitting, among many others – in the entry area of this high-rise. The building itself accommodates a wide range of contrasting residential types that are suitable for families, singles, couples, and apartment shares. The architects devised 76 different floor plans for the 283 units – a genuine lexicon of residential types. Despite the individuality of these layouts, the residential spaces can be used flexibly, so that a variety of people can easily turn them into ideal habitats – not unlike a hermit crab which must seek a new home after each growth spurt. In contrast to the stark white of the residential areas, the lobby, staircases, and common spaces have been given strong tonalities, thereby transporting the atmosphere of Central America – a region experienced by Patrick Gmür personally – directly into Switzerland.
About their work, Patrick Gmür and Michael Geschwentner say: “Two external references orient our residential buildings. The town or locale, and the requirements of everyday existence ... not unlike a screenplay, we sketch out everyday life in pencil in the form of scenes from ordinary life, residential scenarios. Vital in this context is the recognition that our architecture must always remain in the background. It becomes a highly specific and perfectly adapted stage setting for inhabitants.”
The atmospheric design of this exhibition vividly conveys the working approach of this architectural practice through plans, models and images. The installation succeeds on multiple levels as an effective scenarization of the experiences of dwelling, space, color, and emotion.
Catalogue
An Aedes catalogue was published.
With texts by Patrick Gmür & Michael Geschwentner, Matthias Ackermann and Annette Helle
ISBN 978-3-937093-16-1
German/English
Price € 10,-
Sponsors
Pro Helvetia - Schweizer Kulturstiftung, Halter, Hardturm AG, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz - Hochschule für Architektur, Bau und Geomatik, Caretta + Gitz AG, Walther, Mory, Maier Bauingenieure AG, SGC - Sicherheit dank Garantie und Controlling für Bauprojekte AG, Todt Gmür + Partner AG, zehnder & kälin ag, Mettler + Partner AG, Bau- und Siedlungsgenossenschaft Höngg, eisinger Swiss, Franke, Zumtobel, ArcelorMittal, Busch-Jaeger, carpetconcept, AXOR Hansgrohe
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