The development of the Werkhof area in the Mattenhof neighbourhood completes one of the last inner-city perimeter block fragments in Bern. The public space on the busy Schwarztorstrasse is admittedly noisy, but it is also urban, lively and sunny. This is why the new building deliberately faces the street, and why the flat layouts are unusual: only the complementary interlocking of the residential units allows everyone to share in the light and life of the street side – and the peace and fresh air of the courtyard side.
To allow as many flats as possible to participate in the courtyard space, the courtyard façade has folds, as it were, while the view towards the street is taut. The sculptural organisation of the building masses complements this: Plane walls characterise the strongly moving cubature in the courtyard, while the still street elevation is structured by an order of pillars. These pillars really accentuate the solid brickwork from which the walls are constructed. The high-quality material reinforces the commitment to this urban quarter in transition and emphasises the long-term perspective of the private developer, who has made a commitment to the city here.
