VOLPATOHATZ
Research
“New Eternit Swisspor Factory_Eternit (Schweiz)” Design Studio
Institution: University of Liechtenstein Institute of Architecture and Planning
Program Authors: Nicole Hatz Volpato & Marco Volpato
Class Focus: Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studio SS2013 Fourth & Sixth Semester students
Theme:
New production warehouse and office building
Introduction:
The industrial zone of the Schweizer Eternit AG lies within the fringes of the municipality of Niederurnen in Switzerland. The developing dynamism of the area has increased during the past years and has continuously grown throughout the 110 years of the company’s history. Currently, Eternit can no longer increase their capacity and new demands on production processes due to the limitations of their current layout organization, therefore the studio had to develop new strategies for the future development of Eternit AG.
Strategy:
The second project required the students to design a new production warehouse and offices building for Eternit/Swisspor however it will be positioned to the east of the road lines within a newly re-zoned area currently used for agriculture.
The semester program required a detailed contextual analysis of the newly re-zoned area and the creation of a new strategic master plan for the development of the site. An analysis of other potential areas, which surround the Eternit AG estate, were also considered. The final outcome required students to design a new production warehouse and offices and how it would impact and integrate with Niederurnen on an urban level in terms of transport infrastructure, community and agriculture.
Study tour:
As part of their research, students went on a week long study tour visiting modern car manufacturers and museums in Basel, Stuttgart and Munich. The tour ended with a workshop at the Eternit Factory of Niederurnen to understand the characteristics of fiber cement by making a garden chair and to analyze the site and it’s surroundings. Guest speaker Prof. Dr. Andreas Stettin was invited to talk about the latest production methods and logistics.
Integration Courses:
Multimedia by Cornelia Faisst, Urbanism by Ute
Students:
Ben Mansour Lisabell, Beypinar Meryem, Entner Philipp, Fink Klaus, Hödl Manuel, Kummer Alessandro, Ostermann Daniel, Ostermann Werner, Vasile Evelina, Zünd Tobias, Derakhshan Mahdi
Critics:
Christine Dietrich from Eternit (Schweiz) AG, Berlemont Thierry from Sint-Lucas School of Architecture, Brussels-Ghent Belgium, Jaquellin Thommen, Head of Department Environment and Building Glarus Nord, Landolt Franz, Vice Director of Production Eternit (Schweiz) AG Niederurnen
Language:
The studio was held in English and German.
