Reconverting existing buildings
Brueckenkopf © Bauart / R. Walti
Along with the publication of an article on the Brueckenkopf reconversion in the latest edition of the French journal Archistorm, an interview with Prof. Emmanuel Rey, Head of the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST), highlights some of the challenges inherent in transforming the abundant building stock of the second half of the 20th century.
In the context of the fight against urban sprawl and the artificialization of land, the priority today is to regenerate already built-up areas. This leads to a growing interest in the renovation and transformation of existing buildings. The preservation of local urban identities, the promotion of building culture, and the ecological benefits in terms of embodied energy are all arguments in favor of more intervention in existing buildings.
Among the various types of architectural approach to existing buildings, the reconversion of commercial or office buildings into housing is a topic that is frequently raised in theory. However, relatively few examples have been successfully implemented to date.
In this respect, the Brueckenkopf project in the city of Bern by the Bauart office, in which Prof. Emmanuel Rey is a partner, is an exploratory experiment. It demonstrates what can be done with the abundant and ageing stock of tertiary buildings commissioned during the post-war boom period.