Best Architects Award 23
Reconversion Brückenkopf à Berne © Bauart / Ruedi Walti
The architectural firm Bauart, of which Prof. Emmanuel Rey of the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST) is a partner, was awarded a "Best Architects Award 23" for the achievement of the Brückenkopf project in Bern. Each year, this international distinction rewards the architectural quality of projects carried out in Europe. Composed of architectural practitioners and professors, the jury honors approaches that stand out because of their originality and conceptual coherence.
Under the motto "Urban living", the project consists of the reconversion of a typical 1960s administrative building into housing. This tailor-made approach has allowed the creation of a variety of apartments – from 1.5 to 3.5 room – as well as multifunctional lofts within the base of the building.
The project, which enhances the original structure of the building, relies on the specific contribution of closed volumes, movable walls, and non-load-bearing partitions. A spatial continuum characterizes all the apartments so as to highlight the panoramic view of the federal capital and the Alps.
At the programmatic level, the approach also integrates common and public spaces. The roof is home to a common terrace with outdoor cooking facilities, while the lower levels are dedicated to restaurants, leisure activities, and local shops.