Extension for the Thun Panorama

LocationSchadaupark, Seestrasse 45, Thun BE
ClientStadt Thun
Commissionstudy commission on invitation 2009
Planning2009–2013
Construction2013–2014
ArchitectsGraber & Steiger Architekten, Project Architect: Urs Schmid
ConsultantsConstruction manager: Gassner & Leuenberger, Structural engineer: Dr. Schwartz Consulting, Façade engineering: Metallprojekt GmbH, Building physicist: RSP AG
PhotographerD.M. Wehrli

The oldest still existent panorama painting in the world, the Thun Panorama, painted by Marquard Wocher between 1809 and 1814, was comprehensively renovated in 2014. The rotunda designed by the Thun City Architect Karl Keller in 1959, which has housed the panorama painting since the early 1960s, has also been renovated and enhanced by an annexe building. During this transformation, existing aspects of content, architecture and landscape were picked up on, reinterpreted and atmospherically condensed. The pavilion-like, transparent extension building, which transfers the circular geometry of the existing structures to gentle curves in the rectangular exhibition space, is like the antithesis of the introverted rotunda. Thanks to structurally similar characteristics, it enters into a quasi-symbiotic relationship with it, as old and new merge into an inextricable ensemble. 

Extension for the Thun Panorama

Graber & Steiger

Architekten ETH BSA SIA
Alpenstrasse 1
CH-6004 Luzern
mail@grabersteiger.ch
+41 41 248 50 10

Graber & Steiger is an architectural practice based in Lucerne, Switzerland and was founded 1995 by Niklaus Graber and Christoph Steiger. Their work to date includes public and institutional buildings as well as private houses. Graber & Steiger are interested in an architecture that gives a specific and individual response to each task assigned and that at the same time regards personal and subjectiv statements. A strong focus of the team is the search for powerful architectonical structures which approach the task in a targeted way and encourage an autonomous spatial expression. By winning various competitions, Graber & Steiger could accomplish among others the School Complex in Buttikon, the Window Factory in Hagendorn, the Panorama Gallery Pilatus and the extension to the Thun Panorama for which they received several national and international awards.

Niklaus Graber

Architect ETH SIA BSA

*1968. Certified Architect ETH BSA SIA. 1988–95 Studies in Architecture at the ETH Zurich and at the GSAPP Columbia University New York. 1990/91/93 internships at office Herzog & de Meuron, Basel and office Hans Kollhoff, Berlin. 1995 architect at office Herzog & de Meuron. 1995 founding of Graber & Steiger Architekten in Lucerne. 2008–2011 teaching assignment at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. 2013–2015 lecturer in the Master of Arts in Architecture course at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Since 2016 visting faculty at Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlement in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2016/17 Curator of the exhibition “Bengal Stream – The Vibrant Architecture Scene of Bangaldesh” at S AM Swiss Architecture Museum Basel.

Christoph Steiger

Architect ETH SIA BSA

*1968. Certified Architect ETH BSA SIA. 1988–95 Studies in Architecture at the ETH Zurich. 1990/91 internships at office Hans Kollhoff, Berlin and office Herzog & de Meuron, Basel. 1995 architect at office Herzog & de Meuron. 1995 founding of Graber & Steiger Architekten in Lucerne. 2008–2011 teaching assignment at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. 2013–2015 lecturer in the Master of Arts in Architecture course at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. 2016 visting faculty at Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlement in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Roland Stutz

MA ARCHITECT FH

*1968. MA Architect FH. 1983-1996 1983-1996 Training and work experience in Switzerland and abroad as a cabinet maker. 1996/97 internships at Bosshard & Luchsinger Architects. 1997-2001 Architectural studies and diploma at the ZHNW in Winterthur. 2001-2003 Architect at Actar Arquitectura in Barcelona. 2003 -2006 Architect with Graber & Steiger Architects. 2006-2007 Master course and diploma in urban design at ZHNW Winterthur. 2008-2010 Architect at Bosshard & Luchsinger Architects. Since 2010 project leader and since 2019 member of the executive board of Graber & Steiger Architekten.

Downloads

Bibliography

Publications

Selection

Graber & Steiger – Bauten & Projekte 1996–2016

Fensterfabrik in Hagendorn: Niklaus Graber & Christoph Steiger Architekten

Niklaus Graber & Christoph Steiger, Anthologie Bd. 1

Team

Executive Board:
Niklaus Graber
Christoph Steiger
Roland Stutz

Team:
Dominik Annen
Rebekka Baumann
Niklaus Graber
Alex Hammer
Jonas Rüegg
Mattias Rutishauser
Olaf Slowak
Claudia Spörri
Christoph Steiger
Roland Stutz
Nicole Wyss
Sven Zbinden

Administration:
Leonie Burch

Former Employees:
Lars Aebersold
Fadi Almasri
Abdulrahman Althan
Greta Andreoli
Katja Bächtold
Fulvio de Bastian
Sophie Bertin
Philipp Betschart
Jolien Bloem
Jaroslava Brhelova
Agnieszka Broda
Edna Buchmeier
Enric Carol
Farhana Nizam Chowdhury
Christian Dehli
Beatrix Diem
Marcela Dolezalová
Rebekka Eiholzer
Sandro Erni
Christian Estermann Jansen
Beatrice Evangelisti
Pablo Filit
Anthony Frank
Pascal Galler
Felix Geiselbrecht
Pero Georgiev
Ana Gonçalves
Rocio Garcia Gravino
Moritz Grimmer
Tobias Grüter
Florian Gugger
Annette Hammer
Daniel Hauri
Monika Hausammann
Aditi Haque
Christian Hediger
Sara Hensler
Morin Hoang
Yvonne Hoffmann
Fabian Huber
Patric Huber
Fabienne Hug
Lamisa Samantha Islam
Jovan Ivanovski
Catharina Kiesel
Philip Käslin
Patrizia Kulmitzer
Ivo Läuppi
Sofia Leurink
Flavio Lutz
Vinh Ly
James Mac Aree
Filipe Marques
Sascha Matt
Ursula Mehr
Sureya Miller
Patrick Mürner
Eliza Novak
Alicja Nowicz
Lea Nussbaumer
Karin Ohashi
René Pahl
Lucia Pennati
Nathalie Rast
Joe Redwood
Yannis Regamey
Reto Robbi
Stefan Roos
Tamara Roos
Lucas Sager
Susana Santos
Astrid Sauerteig
Philipp Scheidegger
Daniel Scheuner
Sophie Schindler
Maria Schmid
Urs Schmid
Aisha Siddiqua
Fadri Sieber
André Signer
Tiziano Spadoni
Andrea Späti
Julia Spirig
Lucia Spörri
Josef Stadelmann
Katrin Stadelmann
Christian Suter
Sara Swida
Kim Templin
Mathias Thaler
Michelle Thurnhofer
Gianmarco Tolone
Bastien Turpin
Michael Ursprung
Sharon Van Uffelen
Lukas Vogel
Barbara Vogt
Hanspeter Vogt
Martin Waldis
Julia Weber
Werner Weibel
Karin von Wyl
Susanne Wolf
Julia Wollscheid
Doris Wyss
Janis Zemp
David Zimmermann
Alex Zollinger
David Zorenč
Anna Zweifel

Awards & Grands

Selection

1st Prize PRIXFORIX 2021 Award

Vertical Factory Komax AG

Recognition "Houses of the Year" 2021

Plant Manager's Home

Award «Best architects» 22

Vertical Factory Komax AG

Award «Best architects» 21

Cultural youth centre Schappe Süd

Award «Best architects» 21

Primary school Nottwil

Recognition 'Prix Lignum 2018' Award

School building Nottwil

Award «Best architects» 18

Residential building Mühle

Recognition 'Gute Baukultur 2005-2016' Award

Residential building 'Mühle' Sempach

Award «Best architects» 16

Extension for the Thun Panorama

Award «Auszeichnung guter Bauten im Kanton Zug 2006–2015»

AWZ housing

Award «Best architects» 14

Stahlton Bauteile AG office building
Single-family home W

ISR Award for Architecture 2013
Special price of the jury

Pilatus Kulm panorama gallery

Award «Best architects» 13

Pilatus Kulm panorama gallery (Gold)
AWZ housing

Award for Marketing and Architecture 2012
Overall winner

Pilatus Kulm panorama gallery

Award «Best architects» 12

Uri educative centre
Villa by Lake Zug

Ernst A. Plischke Preis, Vienna, Austria 2011
Nomination

Window factory extension

Award «Best architects» 10

Villa by Lake Lucerne

Velux Daylight Award 2010
Nomination

Window factory extension

Rosa Barba Award, Barcelona C, 2008
Nomination

Window factory extension

Award «Best architects» 08

Window factory extension

German Landscape Architecture Award 2007
First Price

Window factory extension

Award «Die Besten», Silver trophy, 2006

Window factory extension

Award «SIA Umsicht | Regards | Sguardi» 2006

Window factory extension

Award «Auszeichnung guter Bauten 1994–1999 im Kanton Luzern» 2000

Stucki single-family home

Exhibitions

Selection

«Schweizweit. Recent Swiss Architecture»
Swiss Architecture Museum S AM, Basel 2016/17

«Spacial Positions 10: The Sound of Architecture»
Festival Zeiträume Basel, Swiss Architecture Museum S AM, Basel 2015

«Panoramen – Bauten und Projekte von Graber & Steiger Architekten»
Kunstmuseum Thun, Thun Panorama, 2014

«Senza pericolo!»
Triennale di Milano, Mailand 2013

«Marketing + Architektur»
ETH Zurich, Institut GTA, Zurich 2013

«Bildbau»
Swiss Architecture Museum S AM, Basel 2013

«Pläne und Modelle von Graber & Steiger»
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts 2010

«ARCH/SCAPES»
Schweizer Beitrag zur 7. Bienal International de Arquitetura de Sao Paulo
Pavilhao Ciccillo Matarazzo Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo 2007,
Swiss Architecture Museum S AM, Basel 2008,
Today Art Museum, Bejing 2009,
Shenzhen + Hong Kong Architecture Biennale, Hongkong 2010

«Spezifisch | specifique | specivico»,
Architekturforum Zürich 2007

«Umsicht SIA»
Swissbau Basel, ETH Zurich, FH Burgdorf, Architekturforum FAR Lausanne, HSR Rapperswil, SUPSI Lugano, CAUE Angers F, DAZ Berlin, 2006–2008

«Die Besten 06»
Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, 2006

«Gutachter-verfahren Kunsthaus Graz»
Architekturforum Zürich 1998

Lectures

3rd International Conference on Structures and Architecture, Guimaraes, Portugal 2016
«On the authority of the load-bearing structure»

International Symposium Architecture now/next, Dhaka 2016
Panel discussion «Education now/next»

Bengal Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesch, 2016
«Reflections on Structure»

Technische Hochschule Köln
«Postitionen Schweizer Architektur» 2015

BRAC University Dhaka, Bangladesch, 2014
«Trended Structures»

KIT Karlsruhe, 2014
«Swiss Architects»

Architektur Forum Thun, 2013
«Panoramen – eine Rundschau»

ETH Zurich, Institut GTA, 2013
«Panoramagalerie Pilatus Kulm»

Mongolbarer Shobha, Dhaka, 2012
«Structures»

ETH Zurich, 2009
«Denkmodell Struktur»

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 2009
«Tektonik und Struktur»

Rosa Barba Award, Barcelona, 2008
«Window factory Hagendorn»

Istituto la città complessa, Pordenone, Italy, «Recent Works», 2008
«Recent Works»

Deutsches Architektur-zentrum Berlin, 2008
«Fensterfabrik Hagendorn»

FHNW Basel, 2006
«Ein Haus von...»

Architekturforum Zurich, 2003
«Junge Schweizer Architekten»

ETH Zurich, 1997
«Haus Stucki»

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
11.09.24
Korail Residency 2024, Dhaka
13.06.24
Residential building Lucerne
25.03.24
1st prize in Geneva!
06.05.23
Exhibition in Dhaka/Bangladesh
16.03.23
Exhibition 'Typisch Luzern?'
29.04.22
Publication in TEC21magazine
12.01.22
Open position for an Architect
17.11.21
Exhibition 'BETON' S AM Basel
23.09.21
1st Prize PRIXFORIX 2021 Award
22.09.21
Award Houses of the Year
01.09.21
Award best architects 22
09.05.21
Internship
08.04.21
Twenty-Five Wor(l)ds
30.03.21
Completion Denkmalstrasse
02.03.21
Houses of the Year
01.03.21
Swiss Performance 2021
21.02.21
Preservation in South Asia
23.12.20
Completion "Paradies" Weggis
01.10.20
Publication "Vertical Factory"
16.07.20
bestarchitects 21 award
05.06.20
Plant manager’s residence
01.06.20
Vertical Factory
31.05.20
Topping-Out Denkmalstrasse
15.05.20
Paradise Residences
01.05.20
Residences in Winterthur
01.03.20
Workshop in Bangladesh
11.02.20
1st Price Rigi Competiton
21.11.19
Louis Kahn, Silence and Light
14.10.19
Exhibition 35 Years of S AM
01.09.19
Building permission
16.08.19
100 Experiments
25.06.19
Residential Landenberg
18.06.19
Topping-out ceremony Komax AG
06.06.19
BENGAL STREAM AT DAM FRANKFURT
03.06.19
Building permission
22.11.18
Bengal Stream in Bordeaux
18.10.18
Lecture in Skopje / Macedonia
28.09.18
Prix Lignum 2018
18.09.18
Award by STA Chicago
28.11.17
Exhibition Bengal Stream
01.11.17
The Designing Engineer
16.09.17
Inauguration of Primary School
30.06.17
bestarchitects 18 award
14.06.17
Award for good building
17.01.17
Wakker Prize awarded
19.11.16
Exhibition at the S AM Basel
27.10.16
Award canton of Zug
10.09.16
«Atuprix 2015» Award
27.07.16
ICSA 2016
22.06.16
Start of construction
11.06.16
Architectural visit: Köniz
06.06.16
Start of construction
01.03.16
Graber & Steiger in Bangladesh
04.09.15
«Spatial Positions 10»
01.08.15
School building in Nottwil
28.05.15
Graber & Steiger monograph

13.06.24

Hillside residential building in Lucerne completed.

What began as a study 10 years ago can now finally be experienced as built spaces in Lucerne's Bramberg neighbourhood.
The slender, sculpturally modelled apartment building, which has replaced a dilapidated smaller residential building, makes use of the narrow plot in a densified manner, in keeping with the signed of our times but without creating a spatial constriction in the green neighbourhood structure.
The staggered volume and the customised flats inscribed in it thematise urban living through a variation of different flat types and well-proportioned, well-lit rooms. Generous windows and loggias open up views to the porous neighbourhood pattern, across the city of Lucerne and into the surrounding countryside with its hills, mountains and lakes.
In reference to the historic brick buildings specific to the neighbourhood, which rise upwards on existing garden-like plots, the new building has a vertically structured brick façade that subtly regulates views. The tectonics of the façade creates a lively interplay of light and shadow and makes principals of construction playful visible. While the pillars built on site are constructed in a horizontal masonry bond, the prefabricated parapet elements have a vertical, linear brick cladding.

Graber & Steiger

11.09.24 Korail Residency 2024, Dhaka 13.06.24 Residential building Lucerne 25.03.24 1st prize in Geneva! 06.05.23 Exhibition in Dhaka/Bangladesh 16.03.23 Exhibition 'Typisch Luzern?' 29.04.22 Publication in TEC21magazine 12.01.22 Open position for an Architect                      Instagram                      Design: C2F.CH                  
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