New Order

Dealing with the building complex of the former Burgernziel Alter Tramdepot in Bern the atelier will focus on different levels of reuse. Starting with the inventory and analysis of the existing building complex the studio will deal with a spatial reorganization of building parts. The goal is the development of usage typologies that should result from the existing reusable construction.
The facility was built as a tram depot in the late 18th century. After the exclusion of the tram in 2014, the area got occupied by several temporary programs, like exhibitions, concerts, flea markets, alternative restaurant. After an architecture competition, the tram depot waits demolition and a new residential district will be built. The main pedagogical goal of the course will be to address the issues of circular economy of architectural elements in all scales, from the single brick to the whole structural elements. The studio proposes to adress the architecture design backwards. It will start from the dismantling of a building into its single individual components and will with an individual design proposal using the main structure of the existing building. Since the design process does not start with a traditional user program and a given site, it is necessary to develop specific typologies and search for potential users. The course will promote open communication on architecture values and reuse of resources.