back to Florian Hartmann – Switzerland


back to Florian Hartmann – Switzerland
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics organized an open, international architectural competition for the new construction of the Swiss embassy and residence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The jury unanimously recommended the OLBH project to the awarding authority for further processing. The competition entry impresses with its functionally intelligent placement of the building volumes in the site, a high degree of functionality and interior flexibility as well as the interweaving of the interior and exterior spaces to form a whole.
The project succeeds in creating a spatial arrangement with simple architectural means, where the house, topography, and garden are intricately woven together into a cohesive whole. This creates a space of atmospheric depth, thoughtfully shaped by the local context while embodying Swiss values with understated elegance. The Swiss representation in Addis Ababa is not so much a traditional house of representation but rather a luminous, evocative, and optimistic venue for connection and exchange.
The design is grounded in the division of the spatial program into three distinct building volumes, thoughtfully and functionally integrated into the site’s topography. These volumes establish a structural framework that, in combination with the balcony and roof elements, forms a composition that is both clearly defined and spatially permeable. Built and open spaces harmonize to create an open yet confident structure that seamlessly incorporates the garden, its vegetation, and the changing seasons as fundamental components of its architectural vision.
This design achieves a minimally invasive intervention, leveraging the existing topography while respecting the surrounding vegetation. The individual building components are functionally organized and arranged around a spacious central courtyard. The design is based on a uniform square grid system, which is prominently expressed through the open coffered ceiling, supported by steel columns in the exterior areas. This framework ensures maximum interior flexibility, enabling a durable and adaptable architecture that can accommodate evolving user needs.
The primary structure of the platform and the overlying roof consists of a reinforced concrete grid ceiling. This structure is supported by steel columns along the facade and four-column clusters at the intersections of the coffered grid. Thanks to the thermal mass of the concrete, the building reacts slowly to external temperature fluctuations, enhancing thermal stability.
The facade is fully glazed, and the mild climate allows double-glazed insulation to provide the desired level of indoor comfort. The cantilevered platform doubles as a structural sunshade, offering effective protection from direct sunlight.
The floors are designed with a smooth, homogeneous surface made from locally sourced natural stone terrazzo, which will be used both indoors and in the exterior areas of the platform, seamlessly connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces. The interior walls will feature exposed masonry, with their unfinished surfaces contributing to a comfortable indoor climate. To enhance acoustics, acoustic panels will be integrated into the ceiling sections of the coffered grid.
The transparent facade will include provisions for privacy, glare control, and shading. All doors and built-in furniture will be crafted from wood. The construction will be carried out by local companies, making extensive use of locally available materials.
Category:Government BuildingsLocation:Berg, Thurgau, CHArchitect: Florian Hartmann, SwitzerlandArchitecture Office:Florian Hartmann, OLBH GmbHLead Architects:Florian HartmannLandscape Architects:Adrian Ulrich, Cyclus GmbHDesign Team: Florian Hartmann, Piero Bühler, Johannes Leibundgut, Christine Wöhner, Arthur Loretz, Judith SaileContractor:OLBH GmbHClient: Federal Office for Buildings and LogisticsOther:RAAS ArchitectsPhotographer: OLBH GmbH