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18.8.11

Swiss Building Sample Center Zürich

Basel Conference attendees traveling through Zürich have the possibility, on their own time, of participating in a 1.5 hour guided tour of the Schweizer Baumuster-Centrale Zürich (SBCZ), led by Werner K. Rüegger, SIA AIA SWB, the Center’s Director and past president of AIA Europe. AIA members may self-report this activity and earn 1.5 CES learning units.


The Swiss Building Center (SBCZ) was founded in Zürich in 1935. Among its founders were luminaries like Dr. Sigfried Giedion, Author of "Space, Time and Architecture". The public exhibition of full scale architectural environments was to familiarize visitors with the ideas of the modern movement.

Today the SBCZ  features an impressive collection of large sized material samples used in construction, prototypical structures and innovative components. Architectural design in Switzerland during the 20th century focused on material honesty — a symbiosis of material use, craftsmanship and the available tools. With today's possibilities of digital fabrication using computers and new composite materials, architectural construction has become a playground for experimentation.


Highlights include interactive tools, innovative materials and production processes, green building materials and the history of SBCZ since 1935 as part of the Modern Movement. Participants interested in this tour must RSVP to werner.ruegger@baumuster.ch. The Swiss Building Center is open Monday through Friday from 09h00-17h30, Thursdays until 20h00.

SBCZ is accessible by public transport. WEBERHAUS is situated between Stauffacherquai and Werd Hochhaus at Weberstrasse 4. Near Stauffacherplatz, Haus Konstruktiv, SIA-Hochhaus und the new Börse at train station Selnau S4 und S10 from Main Station Zürich (from Zürich airport take any train to the Main Station HB Zürich). from the city center take Tram 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 13 und 14. Public parking at Stauffachertor (http://www.parking.ch/old/de/home/fstauffachertor.html) is only minutes away.

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