Trip to Switzerland with March Advanced students

DATE

30.10.2024

The trip to Switzerland for students of the MArch Advanced program in architecture, design and business administration provided an intensive immersion experience in contemporary architecture and design. Starting in Zurich, the first day was dedicated to exploring the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, both at its Toni-Areal and Ausstellungsstrasse locations. This museum, emblematic for its focus on design and applied arts, allowed students to understand the evolution of Swiss design, its functionalist approaches and its international relevance. The visit to both spaces provided an overview of the creativity and innovation that characterize Swiss design and architecture, placing them in the context of Swiss history and visual culture.

On the second day, they headed to Chur, a small town that is home to Pritzker Prize winner Peter Zumthor’s Shelter for Roman Ruins, a shelter designed to preserve and frame Roman ruins in a contemplative setting that respects the historical context. They then visited the Bündner Kunstmuseum Chur, designed by the Barozzi Veiga studio, where the integration of contemporary architecture with the historical setting captured the attention of visitors. The day continued in Vals, where they had the opportunity to visit Haus Balma, a residential project by Kengo Kuma that stands out for its focus on natural materials and harmony with the mountain landscape. To round off the day, the students enjoyed the Vals thermal baths, another project by Zumthor, where the stone and water design creates a sensorial and meditative space that dialogues perfectly with the alpine environment, offering an experience of relaxation and connection with nature.

The third day was dedicated to Lausanne, where the students visited the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts (MCBA), designed again by Barozzi Veiga, and the MUDAC + Photo Elysée complex, designed by Aires Mateus. Both spaces stand out for their modernity and sensitivity to the urban context, providing a contemporary reading of the city’s architectural landscape. The visit concluded with the Rolex Learning Center, a project by fellow Pritzker winners SANAA located at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, which is characterized by its innovative open-plan design and spatial fluidity. Back in Zurich for the last day, the students visited the library of the Faculty of Law by Santiago Calatrava, a carefully structured interior design, and the Kunsthaus Zürich, a building by another Pritzker winner, David Chipperfield, where they were able to attend the opening of the Marina Abramović retrospective that opened that same day. This four-city tour provided a comprehensive experience of architecture and design in Switzerland, broadening students’ perspectives on styles, approaches, and the relationship with the natural and urban environment.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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