# 30

SWISS­PEARL ARCHITECTURE
 SWISS­PEARL ARCHITECTURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# 30
2 COLLIN COLLEGE 38 CLIMBING WALL, IRELAND
Hugh Kelly Architects
­TECHNICAL CAMPUS,
ALLEN, USA 44 BRIDGE HOUSE, CANADA
Perkins & Will Vallely Architecture

50 SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE, NORWAY

Sunniva Rosenberg Arkitektur
17 A WORD FROM OUR CEO
Harry Bosshardt 56 OFFICE BUILDING, SWEDEN
Arkitektstudion AB
18 KNOW-HOW
Vibrant Colors for a Lasting Impression 60 LOUISIANA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, USA
Mithun Architects
24 FACES BEHIND
We are Swisspearl 68 MONTROSE PRIMARY SCHOOL GYMNASIUM,
AUSTRALIA
32 MAKING-OF H2o Architects
A Strong Piece of Design: Trash Cube
72 BERGI MUSIC AND ART SCHOOL, LATVIA
36 PRODUCT Ozola & Bula Architects
Swisspearl Largo Reflex
76 AMNIS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION, IRELAND
DTA Architects

82 ROWAN UNIVERSITY, SCIENCE AND

EDUCATION BUILDING, USA
HOK

86 LAKES EDGE HOUSE, NEW ZEALAND

Dravitzki Brown

90 HERBA HOUSE, POLAND

Jakub Sucharski

96 WIKI HOUSE, MONGOLIA

Badral Bayaraa

100 FLASH 1: CARBONA APARTMENTS, HUNGARY

101 FLASH 2: FORBES OFFICE BUILDING, USA
2 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 PERKINS & WILL

Teaching 21st
­ entury Technology
C
Collin College Technical Campus
Allen, Texas, USA

How a US technical campus is successfully inspiring a future

­generation, meeting ecological challenges, and supporting equality in
the trades through practical planning.

Text by John Hill

3
4 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
T
he population of Collins County, northeast dors overlooking lab spaces, a loop around campus while
of Dallas, has more than doubled this cen- touring prospective students. The bars and yards sit atop
tury, growing from nearly half a million res- a parking garage.
idents in 2000 to more than one million in The three trades bars connect to the academic bar
2020. These numbers make it the fastest growing county via open-air and enclosed bridges that traverse the out-
in Texas, but it is also one of richest counties in the whole door spine that provides a social “mixing” space and a
country and as such is experiencing a subtle gentrifica- bioswale for treating rainwater runoff from the whole
tion, with higher-income families moving in and lower-­ campus. Parallel to this spine is the three-story academic
income people unable to stay. Cognizant of this trend and bar that houses administrative functions in the middle
the inability of local businesses to fill jobs geared to peo- level, academic spaces (library, health sciences, class-
ple with trades degrees rather than business degrees, rooms, etc.) on the top floor, and the Allen ISD class-
county residents in 2017 voted in favor of a 600-million-­ rooms on the lowest level. This bar is more than 182 me-
dollar bond that would allow Collin College to expand ters long but only about 24 meters wide on the north and
three of the community college’s campuses and to build south ends. The combination of berms at the lowest level
four new campuses. One of the latter is Collin College and sizable top-floor cantilevers sheltering generous ter-
Technical Campus (CCTC), a 33,445-square-meter com- races on the ends means the academic bar, when seen
plex on 13 hectares in the town of Allen. Designed for a from the highway or the nearby houses, appears as a one-
capacity of 7,100 students, CCTC opened its doors in Sep- story volume clad in Swisspearl panels.
tember 2020, offering programs in carpentry, plumbing, With tilt-up panels enclosing the three trade bars as
industrial automation, vocational nursing, and automo- a cost-saving and efficiency measure brought on by the
tive technology, among many oth- contractor, and with zoning restric-
ers, while also partnering with the tions in Allen dictating some sort
Allen Independent School District For the top floor of masonry on the exterior, Per-
(ISD) allowing high school students kins & Will chose Swisspearl fiber
to earn a trade certification and high
they opted for lighter cement panels for the non-glazed
school diploma at the same time. panels, also with portions of the facades on the first
The campus is located on a matching rivets, and third floors of the academic bar
greenfield site south of Highway to achieve a monolithic (the middle level is wrapped en-
121, a developing commercial spine tirely in glass). Carat panels in Sap-
known as the “121 Corridor,” form-
­appearance when phire 7060 with matching rivets
ing the northern edge of Allen. A seen from a distance. cover the long sides of the first floor:
residential area directly south of the facing west at the drop-off/pick-up
site led architects Vandana Nayak, for high school students and east
Devin Eichler, and the rest of the Perkins & Will team to ­toward the outdoor spine. The color selection makes the
design a building that breaks down the vertical scale of base of the building appear to be “sliced from the earth,”
the building. Basically, the campus is arranged as four lin- per Eichler. For the top floor the lighter Carat panels in
ear “bars” that write an “E” on the landscape when seen Onyx 7099, also with matching rivets, achieve a mono-
from above: the academic bar is the vertical, while the lithic appearance when seen from a distance. The pan-
horizontal bars are the three trades. els—1250 millimeters wide and up to 3050 millimeters
The parallel trade bars are devoted to automotive on high—cover the narrow, predominantly solid north and
the north, construction in the middle, and HVAC, weld- south ends. Swisspearl panels also wrap the top and bot-
ing, robotics, and other programs on the south. The two- tom edge bands that extend hundreds of meters along the
story bars feature double-height labs on the south and east and west sides of the top floor and help shade the
stacked floors of classrooms, corridors, and ancillary ­expanses of glass. Soffit and sill panels were specified
spaces on the north, all beneath an open-span structure with coating 7099 R, to maintain a consistent appearance
that allows for flexible interiors and the potential to in- and also provide UV resistance. Just as the whole cam-
sert floors in the future. Each bar is matched by an out- pus “­ elevates the trades,” in Nayak’s words, these facades
door space directly south of it, providing exterior “work ­elevate the use of Swisspearl panels in this prominent
yards.” The bars are linked by bridges that traverse the part of Collin County.
yards and give college recruiters, in concert with corri-

5
 The building’s individ-
ual elements are
­connected by bridges
on all levels. Mixed
among them are green
courtyards, which
­ensure a pleasant
micro­climate in be-
tween buildings. The
large-scale glazing
adds plenty of light to
the interior. The
­facades are shad­ed
by cantilevers clad in
Swiss­pearl panels.

6 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

7
 The nearly 200-meter-long
glass bar of the main building
is enclosed by bright Swiss­
pearl panels. It protrudes on
both sides and seems to
float above the landscape. The
base of the building appears
to be cut out of the ground.

8 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

 LOCATION: 2550 Bending Branch Way, Allen, TX, USA
CLIENT:Collin College, Allen, TX
ARCHITECTS: Perkins & Will, Dallas, TX
BUILDING PERIOD: 2018–2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Baker Drywall, Mesquite, TX
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Sapphire 7060, Onyx 7099 (R)

9
 INTERVIEW WITH VANDANA NAYAK AND DEVIN EICHLER

“We wanted nature to bring ­ egrees, trade certification, and high school
d
­diplomas at the same time. Architecturally it
itself into the project to create was interesting because we had finished con-
ceptualizing our building and were in design
a moment of relief.” development when Allen ISD brought 12
­million dollars to the table. It was a challenge
Devin Eichler to both integrate the high school kids and
­separate them, to give them their own space
as well as opportunities the college offers.
Therefore they have their own home on the
first floor of the academic bar; they take
core classes there and then move upstairs to
go to the trade classes.
What makes CCTC unique?
Vandana Nayak: Community colleges have Why did you conceptualize the college as
always provided training for “middle” jobs, an “Educational Village” and how does the
but in recent times community colleges have final building capture that concept?
functioned more as academic transfer col- Devin Eichler: We wanted nature to bring
leges. After grade 12, students can attend com- itself into the project as a way of creating a
munity college for a couple of years for an moment of relief from the high-intensity,
­associate’s degree, and then transfer to a col- hands-on programs. We wanted to juxtapose
lege for a bachelor’s degree. Less common is the academic bar on one side and the trades
the integration of community-specific trades, programs on the other, with green areas
so that students obtain practical experience, ­acting as the thread weaving them together.
Vandana Nayak get their trades certificates, and enter careers. ­Students cross between the traditional-style
There had been a shift toward academic classrooms and hands-on programs, inter­
­campuses but now it’s back to trades. acting with nature and also interacting with
­people from different trades. Dallas is a warm,
How does CCTC compare to other voca- humid climate, so we wanted the central
tional colleges and other Perkins & Will spine to be a shaded, comfortable space for
­educational projects? these interactions.
VN: We’re starting to see architecture that VN: When it rains, we see people walk
elevates the profession, elevates the excite- onto the bridges and watch the rain run into
ment of entering a trade school. When you the swale, watch it swell and recede. In a
come into CCTC it doesn’t feel like a back-­ day or two they see the plants—desert plants
of-house garage. Trade schools had been meant for the bioswale—start to bloom.
­predominantly visited by men but when you They love it.
Devin Eichler elevate the trades and create a space that is
­daylit, welcoming, and open, you have a better The school has been open less than a year,
enrollment of men and women—better gender and at reduced capacity due to the
equality. We saw that happen at Kawartha ­pandemic. How else have you seen these
College, designed by Perkins & Will in To- outdoor spaces used?
ronto. Collin College was inspired by that; VN: From 2017 to ribbon cutting in 2020,
they wanted women interested in trades to be we designed and built CCTC, and then—the
drawn to this college. pandemic. Because of it there was more
interest in being outside. Now, different pro-
How does the partnership with Allen ISD grams happen in these outdoor spaces, such
work and how did it affect the design of the as Cars and Coffee on Saturday mornings,
building? when you can have coffee and talk about these
VN: They were interested in the opportu- beautiful old cars parked there. These pro-
nity for students to get their associates grams bring the community to their campus.

10 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

 Perkins & Will
DE: And those events involve the students Founded in Chicago in 1935 by Lawrence Perkins and Philip
as well, so if you’re working in the automotive Will, Perkins & Will has evolved into a global architecture firm
industry and have an event like Cars and with 24 offices and 2,000 employees. Since the trailblazing
­Coffee, it becomes a networking opportunity Crow Island School designed with Eliel and Eero Saarinen in
for students. There is also a small conference suburban Chicago in 1940, Perkins & Will has been known
center, and underneath the cantilevers are for educational projects ranging from early learning centers
covered spaces for public events that look and grade schools to high schools and universities.
­toward the neighborhood and really connect One of three Perkins & Will offices in Texas, “Big D” is the
with the community. name of the Dallas studio, which occupies part of Dallas High
School in downtown. Built in 1907, but closed in 1995, the
Interview by John Hill four-story building was renovated into offices two decades
later, with Perkins & Will as main tenant. There the team
designed CCTC, among many other types of buildings located
in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

CREATE (Campus for Research Singing Hills Recreation Fleming College Kawartha
Excellence and Technological ­Center (Dallas, Texas, 2021) Trades and Technology Centre
Enterprise) (Singapore, 2013) (Peterborough, Ontario, 2014)
This 21,370-square-meter
Singapore National Research building in southern Dallas This 8080-square-meter build-
Foundation’s four-building, houses a basketball court, ing houses Fleming’s trades
67,260-square-meter campus community facilities, and a and apprentice programs. It is
hosts interdisciplinary senior center behind large anchored by the “Skills Arena”
research centers from numer- glass walls and beneath a and its three-story “Kube,”
ous universities, providing ­single folded roof lined with where students grasp the
them with environmentally southern pine. ­different components of a
­sustainable lab facilities. construction project.

11
12 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
13
 The campus is located on the
greenfield between High-
way 121 and a residential area

221_CollinCollege_Allen_Texas_USA
on the northern side of Allen.
The four wings of the build-
1 cm ing are arranged as linear
beams in such a way that they

Scale: 1:1500 form the letter E against the

landscape.
The vertical bar houses the
academic wing and presents
the backbone of the campus.
The three tracts of the
­building are grouped at right
angles to the vertical wing
and house the workshops
of the technical trades’ edu-
cation program.

SECOND FLOOR 1:1500

14 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

 vertical section
Scale: 1:20

1
3
4
EXPLOSION
1
1 Academic Bar
2 Trades Bar
3 Bio swale
5
4 Connectors
5 Parking 3
6 Work Yards 6
7 Administration
8 Student Terrace

7
2
4
2
4
2
4

6
8 1 6 1 Swiss
3 2 Swiss
6
R-col
3 ventil
5
7 Program Legend 4 moist
1.) Academic Bar 6 5 meta
8 2.) Trades Bar 6 therm
5 3.)2 Bio 3
swale4 9 10 8
7 sun c
4.) Connectors
5.) Parking 8 concr
6.) Work Yards 9 roofin
7.) Administration 10 meta
8.) Student Terrace
11 Z-girt
12 therm

1 3 11 4 9

8 12 8

VERTICAL SECTION 1:20

1 Swisspearl Largo 8 mm
2 Swisspearl Largo 8 mm, R-color
3 ventilation cavity, sub framing
4 moisture barrier
5 metal cladding
6 thermal insulation, Z-girts
7 sun control louer
8 concrete
9 roofing system
10 metal roof deck
11 Z-girts
12 thermal insulation

15
16 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 A WORD FROM OUR CEO

For many years, Swisspearl magazine has taken you on a journey with us around
the globe, presenting outstanding Swisspearl projects in different regions of the
world and offering insight into our world of fiber cement.
Our façades combine aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability on different
continents; accordingly, the material requirements are demanding and diverse.
As an outer shell, the façade protects a building against climatic influences. It
has to withstand enormous temperature fluctuations, humidity, and dryness. Yet
above all, the building’s exterior is also the face of the house. It reflects contex-
tual and regional features of the building culture.
In this issue, focus is on the Collin College Technical Campus in Allen, Texas.
The impressive facility was recently opened and is designed to accommodate
7,100 students. The nearly 200-meter-long stretch of the main building, clad
with Swisspearl panels, protrudes on both sides, which lends it a lightness
despite its size and makes it appear to float above the landscape.
From such large structures to tiny houses like the one in Mongolia—from build-
ings in the urban context to those in remote areas—unmistakable Swisspearl
façades can be found on houses everywhere—and yet, each one is unique.
Swisspearl is robust and diverse at the same time. It can be used on a large scale,
but can also present itself in a very delicate way. It can be colorful and playful,
or serious and straightforward, but in any case, it is precise and adaptable to the
respective situation.
This is also ensured by our employees who, with their know-how and consis-
tently high-quality production standards, make sure that Swisspearl lives up to
its name every single day. I would like to take this opportunity to express my spe-
cial thanks for this. For the 30th issue of our magazine, we present 30 employ-
ees who represent everyone who contributes to Swisspearl’s success—each in
his or her own way.
Harry Bosshardt, CEO Swisspearl Group

17
17
 KNOW-HOW

Vibrant Colors
for a Lasting Impression
Swisspearl offers a broad palette for buildings around the globe.

Text: Marcy Goldberg

The mystery of colors fascinates us from a When used in construction, some colors are
young age. Mixing paints to make new colors literally warmer or cooler than others, some
out of red, yellow, and blue, or watching sun- better suited to particular weather condi-
beams and crystals create rainbows, becomes tions, some more resistant to wear and tear.
the stuff of childhood memories long before There are practical reasons why different
we have even heard of chemistry or optics. geographic regions have developed distinc-
Over the course of history, certain hues have tive color schemes. The white walls of the
become near-universal symbols: like the yel- stone houses found all around the sunny
low danger sign, or the white wedding dress. Mediterranean reflect the heat instead of ab-
At the same time, colors also develop partic- sorbing it. The traditional deep red paint on
ular associations within a specific culture. In wooden buildings in snowy Scandinavia cre-
some countries, bridal gowns are red. And ates a cheering view even in winter, when the
are black clothes a symbol of mourning, or days are so short. This is why Swisspearl
cocktail-party chic? The choice of colors is treats color research as both an art and a sci-
both an aesthetic and an emotional phenom- ence. We strive to develop products that meet
enon, and psychologists continue to research the needs of clients all over the globe, from
the effects of color schemes on behavior. the point of view of design, structural re-
But alongside questions of mood and style, quirements, and local tastes and trends.
there is also a functional aspect to color.

18
19
Developing new color technologies
As a company with Swiss origins, we also know how greatly building situations
can vary over even very small distances. We work with the best available raw materials
and cutting-edge processes to create products suited to the whole range of climatic
conditions: whether dry or wet, hot or cold, valley or mountaintop. As a result,
the range of colors we provide for our façade and rooftop panels are not only highly
­attractive, but also functionally suited to the needs of the building location.
Thanks to our investment in staff, training, and technology, our research laboratory
team is constantly engaged in developing new color technologies that are pleasing
to the eye, sustainably produced, and long-lasting.

20
Swisspearl’s panels are pro-
duced in both colored and
­natural versions. For the col-
ored ones, pigments are added
to the fiber cement mixture
at the start of the manufactur-
ing process.
Coatings are added in a two-
step process: first an undercoat
is applied, and then a finish
is sprayed or poured onto the
surface.

21
 Testing, analyzing, selecting
We conduct ongoing tests to develop the most robust pig-
ments and coatings able to withstand even the harshest
and most extreme conditions. We work at finding out
which materials are best at reflecting or absorbing UV
light, at r­ esisting heavy rains and winds, at helping to
insulate the exterior in order to maintain good energy con-
ditions within. We also work together with clients and
certification boards to ensure that our products meet local
standards and re­gulations. The views on the following
pages offer a glimpse into the range of possibilities offered
by Swiss­pearl’s know-how.

22
 Norway

Colors in the landscape

From the rugged Swiss Alps to the rain-soaked Vancouver
coast, from the sandy terrain of the United Arab Emirates
to the stony cliffs of Greenland, these buildings withstand
local weather conditions, creating a comfortable ambiance
while making a remarkable impression in the local land-
scape. They also show how functional elements can also be
used in highly decorative ways, whether by varying materi-
als or playing creatively with color combinations. Behold
the rainbow of Swiss­pearl products.

Australia

Switzerland Turkey

23
 FACES BEHIND

We are Swisspearl
For our 30th issue of Swisspearl Architecture Magazine we present
thirty of our company’s employees who work every day to make sure
that you can count on Swisspearl for your building needs through-
out the most diverse regions of the world. Every step is important
to us, from production to coating, precision cutting, professional
transportation, administrative and technical support, to competent
­on-site consultation. In this way, we guarantee that our high-­quality
­material satisfies the highest demands wherever it is implemented.
These thirty people, together with another 1,170 employees, stand
for quality, precision, development, and commitment.
For you and for us.

Harry Harisberger
Country Manager USA and Canada
„ Courageous ambassador for values and quality
Barbaros Yilmaz for whom no adventure is too great and
Employee Color Storage Facilities no path too long.
„ Passionate snowboarder with Turkish
roots who loves the Glarus mountains and
explores the world by bike.

24
 Marlies Gebs
Head of Transport Disposition
„ Dutiful folk dancer with strong roots Samuel Cimirro
in the Glarus mountains who stays focused Employee Logistics
and avoids distractions.
„ Cheerful family man with a strong mind
who prefers a takeout dinner instead of
cooking after a long day at work.

Hansruedi Leuzinger
Julia Kessler Technical Advisor Export
Sales / Assistant Product Management „ Quiet forecaster with technical
­Garden and Design understanding and a social soul.
„ Careful downhill biker who is drawn to
travel in sunny places and likes the cold win-
ter in Switzerland only on boards.
25
 Cajetan Desbonnes Menzi
Goods Receiving Manager
Fabrizio Treveri „ Lively cyclist with a green thumb
Employee Administration Tools / and loyal soul.
Technical sales
„ Benevolent muscle man and loving
grandfather with whom everything is
in good hands.

Christoph Wunderlin
Senior Laboratory Technician R+D Antonio Luis Bleve
Coating Technology Employee Production
„ Patient sound optimizer who „ Sympathetic gardener who loves Italian
conquers the skies music and who patiently cares for his
with a model airplane. grandchildren, and also remembers to feed
the goldfish in the pond.

26
 Stefan Bernet
Master Slate Finishing
Sandra Rossi-Winteler „ Passionate singer in a choir
Office Manager Export and conscientious alpinist who
never loses sight of his goal.
„ Humorous amateur cook
who demonstrates her organizational
skills every day.

Andrea Schnellmann
Manager Staff Restaurant
„ Attentive menu magician who manages to Nina Speich
keep a cool head even in hectic times and goes Graphic Design and International Junior
fishing to maintain her balance. Marketing Project Manager
„ Enthusiastic alpinist who finds suitable
solutions using her creative expertise.

27
 Xaver Bühler
Employee Dispatch

Benjamin Bundi „ Quiet connoisseur and rustic music lover with an

amusing Youtube channel whose heart beats for his
Head of Controlling
family, dog, cat, and nine rabbits.
„ Fun-loving family man and
nature-loving outdoor athlete who keeps a
cool head even in dicey situations.

Jasihen Balachandran
Apprentice IT
Nicole Richtfeld „ Self-reflective robotics tinkerer
Colorist / Color Lab Technician who is a fair-minded youth soccer coach
„ Cheerful car lover who appreciates in his spare time.
socializing and good food.

28
 Susanna Agne
Regional Manager CIS, Eastern Europe, Turkey

Emanuele Dirago „ Determined frontwoman who always carries her

paintbrushes along with her as she performs her
Employee Panel Finishing
duties and contributes as a caring team player.
„ Chatty soccer player
who loves culture and Italian food.

Melanie Weber
Logistics / Vocational Trainer
Georg Tabacek „ Dutiful gardening enthusiast
Project Manager R+D Coating Technology who enjoys socializing with friends and
„ Athletic and companionable bookworm ­responsibly caring for learners.
who likes to travel and is open to new things.

29
 Nadija Opardija
Employee Order Processing Export

Armin Klarer „ Ambitious inline skater who spends her free

CNC Machinist and Cutter time with friends and family.

„ Reliable machinist who approaches

challenges with a solutions-oriented
mindset.

Patrick Grosschedl Manuela Matter

Lead Buyer Master Cropping/Trimming, Head of Company
„ Dog coach and independent person with a Paramedic, Member of Employee Committee
reliable character who gives his best not only on „ Enthusiastic gemstone polisher who is involved
the job, but also on the theater stage. in her community and finds her peace while
immersed in the colorful world of the aquarium.

30
 Jakobus van der Vrande
Allrounder Raw material preparation/processing
„ Hardworking heavy metal guitarist Markus Schneider
with a soft spot for Salvador Dalí and Allrounder
the Middle Ages. „ Sincere and helpful cat lover
who enjoys French life while traveling in
the Alsace and the Atlantic coast.

Milorad Stefanovic
Master Services (Raw material preparation /
processing and Sewage Treatment Plant)
Tobias Hänni
Employee Facility Management and „ Humorous family man who loves ­
­Vocational Trainer history and geography and can relax ­
wonderfully on walks.
„ Crazy drummer whose creativity is
exercised by gazing through the
camera lens.
31
 MAKING-OF

A Strong Piece
of Design
Text: Michèle Rüegg Hormes

When a natural, malleable raw material meets the desire for sustainability and the creative
will of a designer, the best ideas can emerge. When such ideas also fall on fertile ground,
a path is made for something very special: a strong piece of design, each one unique and
universally applicable.

In the Swisspearl factory in the pictur- process. The workers place the pieces and liveliness and plasticity; coming into its
esque, western Swiss town of Payerne, strips of material cut off during the pro- own when played upon by light and
Swisspearl barrels are still handcrafted duction of the planters and furniture in a shadow.
every day to give them an unmistakable still damp, therefore malleable state di- Its unique yet universal shape makes
character. The fiber cement mats, which rectly into the Trash Cube mold, close it the perfect all-rounder—whether stool,
can be formed in a liquid state, are cut to them, and let them dry overnight. The table, or sculpture which, thanks to sus-
size, carefully placed in the vessel moulds, next morning, the mold can already be re- tainable and durable material, finds its
joined together, tapped firmly, and dried. moved and the individual properties of place both indoors and outdoors—as a
This process always leaves valuable raw each piece become visible. strong piece of design.
material scraps behind to be disposed of. Each Trash Cube is unmistakably
Thanks to a convincing idea, up to two unique, a massive body of pressed and Trash Cube
Design: Nicolas Le Moigne (2011)
tons of moulding remains can now be pro- folded pieces of material, a sculptural Material: Fiber cement (cement, limestone meal,
cessed into a design object. rough diamond that seems indiscrimi- reinforcement fibers, air, water)
The idea originated with the French nately coated with an austere outer form. Weight: 48 kg
Dimensions: 31 × 31 × 36 cm (L × W × H)
designer Nicolas Le Moigne after a tour of The material—wild and docile at the same Colour: Natural grey
the hand-crafting plant in Payerne. In- time—becomes a manifesto.
spired by the remnants lying around, he The top and bottom sides are smooth
developed a cubic form by pressing these and functional; in between, the material
scraps together to form a simple, yet shows itself as unified and powerful in its
dense brick: the Trash Cube.
The production of the Trash Cube is
integrated directly into the existing work 32
33
Swisspearl develops unique and
innovative furniture, lighting,
and planters in cooperation with
renowned designers who insist on
a high aesthetic appeal and
excellent quality.
For all design objects created in the
hand molding facility, wooden
molds are developed and produced.
In addition to the existing collection,
the Payerne production plant
also caters to special customer
requirements.

34
35
 PRODUCT

Swisspearl Largo Reflex:

Metallic, shimmering, and reflective

Every house has a face. That is why Swiss­ Yet the shimmering surface is not only In terms of size, cut, and color selec-
pearl strongly values its high-­quality and an expression of aesthetics; it also has a tion, Reflex offers multifaceted and di-
large selection of façades. We are commit- remarkably functional aspect. This is be- verse options to set aesthetic accents in
ted to further developing our selection in cause the reflective layer ensures that the interior and exterior designs. Special col-
order to bring you a wide range of fiber ce- panels are shielded from strong sunlight ors are available on request.
ment-based façades. and thus heat up less. The coating also
Dimensions: up to 3050 x 1250 mm
Reflex, for example, is a fiber cement supports the natural insulation value of Material thickness: 8 and 12 mm
board that has been thoroughly dyed the fiber cement board, and the material Colors: twelve standard colors
throughout and coated with a shimmer- is noticeably less stressed even at higher Link: www.swisspearl.com/products/facades/
ing and reflective surface. The metallic ef- temperatures. swisspearl-largo-reflex/
fects lend the material an expressive look
and achieve exciting color nuances, de-
pending on the viewing angle and light
­irradiation. 36
 SELECTED BUILDINGS

Every year, a great number

of building projects are carried out
with Swisspearl products.
On the following pages,
we present fourteen particularly
remarkable buildings.

37
38 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 HUGH KELLY ARCHITECTS

Climbing Spaces
University of Limerick Climbing Wall, Limerick, Ireland

The University of Limerick Climbing Centre is the premier

indoor climbing facility in Ireland and caters for
Ireland’s fastest growing sport. Through engaging workshops
with the clients and end users, Hugh Kelly Architects
developed the project brief and concept design, pushing the
boundaries of the project.

The University of Limerick Climbing Wall Cen- vided the space to rethink the essence of the in-
tre is a 210-square-meter extension to the UL door climbing experience. The traditional
Sports Arena. The building form echoes rock mono climbing wall experience in a nonde-
faces and crevices commonly found in the nat- script industrial shed was transformed into a
ural world. Externally, the building rises to over 360-degree, purpose-built building with climb-
twenty meters above ground level and drops ing walls that can offer everything from the
dramatically to eight meters over the lower ideal first climbing experience all the way up to
climbing zone. The smooth texture of the clad- international standard climbing that can push
ding, and feature flashings with glass crevices even elite climbers to the limits.
add to the abstract concept of rock shards. A steel portal frame structure, industrial
The center provides climbers with surfaces shed low-tech construction and lightweight
similar to the experience of climbing within a Swisspearl cladding were used to create the
gorge. Three-dimensional models, animations, dynamic building form. It is accentuated by fea-
and virtual reality headsets allowed the stu- ture joints breaking up the building mass into
dents to experience the developing design in fissures of stone shards enclosing the angular
real time. Every single climbing wall panel was form, which reflects the function within. The
shaped, angled, and scrutinized by the Outdoor Swisspearl cladding provides sustainable ad-
Pursuit Club to ensure that the optimum climb- vantages with 95 percent of the product being
ing experience would be realized. Hugh Kelly made up of natural raw materials. With a life-
researched best practice in climbing wall cen- time of over 40 years, Swisspearl also improves
ters of excellence that were being built around both the ecological and economical outcomes
the world in preparation for the 2021 Olympics. of the building envelope.
By thinking outside the box, the architects pro-

39
During the planning and
construction of this build-
ing, the façade had to
be precisely planned and
professionally imple-
mented in every detail.
Extreme precision was the
highest value guiding both
the cutting and assembly
of these Swisspearl panels.

40 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

41
 The building makes a strong
impression with its unique
form, modelled on the face of
a rock. With its successful
combination of materials, the
extensions take on elements of
the existing red-brick building
complex and add new features
to them. Bricks of a darker
shade along the base as well
as bright, diagonally laid
­Swisspearl panels with glass
openings give the building
a powerful and dynamic
ambient.

1 cm 262_UniversityOfLimerickClimbing
Wall_Limerick_Ireland
genordet
LOCATION: Plassey Park Road, University of Limerick, Ireland
CLIENT:University of Limerick
ARCHITECTS: Hugh Kelly Architects, Limerick
BUILDING PERIOD: 2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: BCL Contracts, Limerick
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Incora IN 100

42 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

43
44 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 VALLELY ARCHITECTURE

Floating between
the Trees
Bridge House, North Vancouver, Canada

Situated in North Vancouver’s Pemberton Heights,

Bridge House pays homage to the tenets of modern architecture
while incorporating distinctly regional elements of
exposed wood and timber to create a clean, contemporary
West Coast aesthetic.

Bridge House’s name is derived from the dra- simple and effective with the combination of
matic bridge that extends from the backyard to wood, concrete, Swisspearl fiber cement pan-
the house. The concept of the bridge arose from els, and steel to complete a contemporary West
the initial meeting with the client and architect Coast aesthetic. Timber is used throughout
as they walked around the site and discussed with a dramatic wood screen wrapping around
how to navigate a backyard that was almost a the ceiling and walls of the living area and ex-
full level higher than the front yard. The home tending to the outside. Charcoal-colored Swis-
would be entered at the lower level, yet they spearl panels are used both on the interior and
still wanted to access the rear yard from this exterior as a neutral, dark element juxtaposed
lower level. A bridge element proved to be the with the transparent glazed façades. The dark
solution. panels animate the interior spaces and mirror
Bridge House is configured on a simple, the dramatic dark palette of the exterior façade.
open plan with kitchen, living, and dining areas Clerestory lighting above the sliding doors of
situated on the main level and facing out to a the main bedroom on the upper floor create the
large patio that has been carved out of the ex- impression of a floating roof, which is structur-
isting higher yard to the rear. Instead of isolat- ally supported by two steel I-beams.
ing the upper tier of the garden, a bridge was Bridge House manages to straddle the
created in order to gain access from both levels. seemingly incongruous worlds of a bustling
It carries into and through the home becoming metropolis and rugged mountain landscape.
the central stair and the spine of circulation The open façades and floating lines with the
within the house. backdrop of massive old pines create an im-
The finishes on the exterior design extend pression of lightness, almost like a tree-house
to the inside to create a seamless transition be- perched on the site.
tween inside and out. The material palette is

45
 1 cm 276_BridgeHouse_PembertonHeights
_NorthVancouver_Canada

Scale: 1:400
1 cm 276_BridgeHouse_PembertonHeights
_NorthVancouver_Canada

Scale: 1:400

SECOND FLOOR

LOCATION: North Vancouver, BC, Canada FIRST FLOOR 1:400

CLIENT:private
ARCHITECTS: Vallely Architecture, North Vancouver, BC
BUILDING PERIOD: 2018–2019
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Meister Construction Ltd., North Vancouver, BC
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Black Opal 7024

46 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

The materials of the façade
and exterior spaces—wood,
cement, Swisspearl panels,
and steel—have been skillfully
extended into the interior
and thus enable a smooth
transition between interior
and exterior spaces.

The striking bridge not only

gives the house its name; it
also ties the higher part of the
rear garden together with
the house, continuing inside
as the access axis between
the levels and thus forms the
backbone of the house.

47
48 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
49
50 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 SUNNIVA ROSENBERG ARKITEKTUR

Juxtaposing Old
and New
Single-Family House, Lillesand, Norway

In designing the extension to the existing house, architect S­ unniva

Rosenberg acknowledged the neighboring
buildings, the surrounding rocky landscape, and indigenous tall
pine trees, integrating them into the overall design to
create a harmonious ensemble. The new extension connects
the house to the garden.

L15 House is located in Lillesand, a small town pearl panels and floor-to-ceiling glazed open-
close to the Norwegian coastline in the south ings that contrasts strongly, while not dominat-
of Norway. Sunniva Rosenberg’s extension ac- ing or competing with it.
commodates an open-plan dining, kitchen, and Another aim was to preserve the spruce
living area as well as an outdoor dining area and pine trees and the cultivated garden that
overlooking the garden. The angular plan lay- the owner has created over several decades. By
out optimizes the site and opens up in three cantilevering the extension above the bedrock
directions. By positioning the extension paral- and keeping the large rhododendron plants,
lel to the road, orientated towards the existing which create a windshield, the landscape has
house, an outdoor space is created to the south- been respected. Generous sliding glass doors
west that is sheltered from the sun and wind as open up to the flowering bushes and bring na-
well as affording privacy. ture into the space. Neutral colors ensure that
One of Rosenberg’s aims was to create a it remains the main focus.
site-adapted contemporary extension combin- While the extension opens up to the exist-
ing good craftsmanship and durable materials; ing building and garden in the south, it is closed
a building that has been built sustainably for towards the gravel road in the north. By perfo-
the long-term. The architects have used the rating this closed façade of Swisspearl panels
best building traditions from the past in combi- with small, punctured holes in a motif of an
nation with materials from the present. Rather abstracted tree branch, the extension echoes
than imitating the architecture of the existing the old orchard of trees. Notwithstanding the
house that dates back to the 1980s, Rosenberg tight budget, the extension has been built with
chose to design a reduced, box-like wooden high-quality materials and precision detailing.
construction clad with large, dark-grey Swiss­

51
52 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 The modern extension is
designed as an abstract cube
with dark, perforated Swiss­
pearl panels. With its mini-
malist style, it stands out
from the existing traditional
construction of the main
house and at the same time,
creates an exciting dynamic
between old and new.

53
54 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
48_L15s_Lillesand_Norway
cale: 1:400

Despite the small foot-

print, the interior and
exterior appear generous
and stage interesting
views looking in, out,
and through the house’s
area. The building blends
into the existing land-
scape as a matter of
course.

LOCATION: Lillesand, Norway

CLIENT:private
ARCHITECTS: Sunniva Rosenberg Arkitektur, Oslo
BUILDING PERIOD: 2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Byggmester Notto Høiland, Lillesand
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Black Opal 7021 (perforated),
Satin White Reflex 9291
FIRST FLOOR 1:400

55
56 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 ARKITEKTSTUDION AB

Working in a
Green Environment
Office Building, Gothenburg, Sweden

Located a mere ten minutes from central Gothenburg,

alongside a small golf course, Gårda Johan Fastighets AB’s new
headquarters in St Jörgen Business Park was inspired
by the American model, offering its tenants a wide variety of
activities and opportunities for social encounters.

St Jörgen Business Park houses roughly forty in January 2008. As a crown jewel, anchored on
mid-size and small businesses that rent their a hill with a view of the Gothenburg skyline is
premises from Gårda Johan Fastighets AB. This Gårda Johan’s new triple-story headquarters.
amounts to a total of 70,000 square meters Here, all the rooms are characterized by trans-
of office space accommodating around 700 em- parency towards the surrounding nature. An
ployees. Since its establishment in the early important aspect was to design the building in
1980s, property owner and founder Hans An- line with the client’s personal values with great
dersson has kept to his original idea of invest- care given to the design of the building as a
ing in and developing the green areas of the whole and with attention to the detail and the
business park rather than over-exploiting the components that make up the whole.
available land. Andersson “wanted to create a The ground floor has an L-shaped, covered
business park where people can work, play walkway with benches that shades the lower
sports, spend time with one another, and feel office spaces and protects the entrance, while
good even after the end of the workday. The the upper-level setback creates an outdoor roof
idea came to me in my youth, when I visited terrace overlooking the landscape. The main
similar facilities in the United States. We have volume of the building has been clad in smooth,
put a lot of care and effort into developing dark-grey Swisspearl panels, while the project-
active sports and activity facilities that double ing walkway on the ground floor has been clad
as social meeting points.” in timber slats that echo the forest of trees to
Sankt Jörgen Park Resort is Sweden’s first the rear of the site. The neutrality of the clad-
city resort replete with a hotel, restaurants, ding offsets the natural greenery surrounding
conference facilities, a sports club, spa, tennis the building.
courts, football pitches, and golf course, opened

57
45_GardaJohan_Göteborg_Sweden
enordet

The office building stands on

the slope of a city resort
park and is surrounded by a
golf course. The three levels
of the building’s volume
are staggered and clad in dark
Swiss­pearl panels. On the
ground floor, the house is
enclosed by a covered wooden
arcade in an L shape.

58 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

1 cm 245_GardaJohan_Göteborg_Sweden
Scale: 1:500

FIRST FLOOR 1:600

LOCATION: Knipplekullen 11, Gothenburg, Sweden

CLIENT:Gårda Johan Fastighets AB, Gothenburg
ARCHITECTS: Arkitektstudion AB, Gothenburg
BUILDING PERIOD: 2019–2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Pentagon Bygg AB, Gothenburg
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Black Opal 7025

59
60 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 MITHUN ARCHITECTS

Fun and Games on

the Water’s Edge
Louisiana Children’s Museum, New Orleans, USA

Louisiana Children’s Museum presents a transformative

model for children’s museums that weaves together
indoor and outdoor learning opportunities along with literacy,
parenting, early childhood research, and environmental
education activities to create a supportive environment for
children and their families.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana ern “activity building” houses exhibit and ac-
Children’s Museum re-envisioned its mission tivity galleries. There is an outdoor courtyard
to holistically address the health and develop- between the two volumes, which are carefully
ment of children. The health and well-being positioned between existing oak trees. The
benefits of connecting children with nature led building is raised above ground level to accom-
the museum to relocate from an indoor experi- modate severe storms and withstand up to one
ence in New Orleans’ Warehouse District to a meter of floodwaters.
new campus opening out into a lagoon in the Mithun design team selected Swisspearl’s
1,300-acre City Park. Carat panels in Onyx for their durability, solar
The choreography of the visitor experience reflectivity, and timeless quality. Crucially, the
is designed to connect people and nature cladding has to withstand hurricane-force
throughout their journey—moving through winds and vandalism. The color palette was
groves of oak trees, across water, onto the deck, chosen to provide a subtle reference to tradi-
through the building and into a courtyard and tional limestone façades of public buildings
sensory gardens. A cloud sculpture envelopes within the park, and to create an optimal back-
the entry boardwalk in mist, creating a magical drop for the rich, changing light over the nearby
water experience for visitors entering across lagoon. The lightness of the panels provides a
the lagoon. The shaded arrival “porch” offers projection surface for the ever-changing
fantastic views over the landscape. shadow patterns from the building louvers and
The scheme has two primary volumes: the water reflections from the lagoon. A combina-
northern “arrival building” houses a museum tion of smooth panels and panels with a subtle
store, café, deck, and literacy center as well as pixelated pattern embossed on the surface cre-
reception and museum offices, while the south- ates a playful dance across the long elevations.

61
62 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
63
LOCATION: 15 Henry Thomas Drive, New Orleans, LA, USA
CLIENT:Louisiana Children’s Museum, New Orleans, LA
ARCHITECTS: Mithun, Seattle, WA
BUILDING PERIOD: 2018–2019
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Roofing Solutions LLC, Prairieville, LA
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Sapphire 7060,
Onyx 7090 (HR)

64 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

 The museum building is
made up of two out-
spread wings with widely
cantilevered roofs. In
between, a park opens
up revealing old oak trees
that invite visitors to
­linger and play. The spa-
cious, covered entrance
veranda opens up to
a fantastic view of the
landscape.

65
nordet Scale: 1:20
11 12 13 14 15

5
8

1 Swisspearl Largo 8 mm
2 ventilation cavity
3 thermal insulation, mineral wool 9
4 moisture barrier
5 gypsum board
6 thermal insulation, steel stud
7 metal stud cavity
8 metal cladding
9 cork-lined child viewing window
10 composite concrete deck
11 metal roofing
12 waterproofing
13 thermal insulation, rigid
SECOND FLOOR 14 acoustic structural roof deck
15 steel framing

1
10

VERTICAL SECTION 1:20

1 Swisspearl Largo 8 mm
2 ventilation cavity
3 thermal insulation, mineral wool
4 moisture barrier
5 gypsum board
6 thermal insulation, steel stud
7 metal stud cavity
8 metal cladding
9 cork-lined child viewing window
10 composite concrete deck
11 metal roofing
FIRST FLOOR 1:150
12 waterproofing
13 thermal insulation, rigid
14 acoustic structural roof deck
15 steel framing

66 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

67
68 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 H2O ARCHITECTS

A Bright New
School Gym
Montrose Primary School Gymnasium, Montrose, Australia

Montrose Gymnasium is situated in a peripheral suburb

of Melbourne and offers a much-loved primary school on the
foothills of the Dandenong mountain range and
an exceptional new gym for the school and community.
With its dynamic forms and colors, the new gym creates
a striking new identity for the school.

The central idea of H2o architects was to re- sure afforded by the generous shaded veranda
spond to the character of the Dandenong foot- at the front of the building.
hills, the hinterland between Melbourne’s ex- The gym features a competition-grade bas-
pansive flat plains and the rolling hills of the ketball court with spectator seating, storage,
Yarra Valley. The architects located the gymna- and changing rooms. A lower-level extension
sium in front of the school, where it is highly to the south includes an office and colorful
visible from the nearby main road. The large bathrooms. A child-friendly, commercial-­grade
volume to the north interfaces with a framed kitchen hosts the school’s new kitchen learning
forecourt toward the street, which is a public / program and kiosk. The entry foyer of the gym
private interface along the front elevation of can be utilized as a flexible breakout space for
the building. communal dining and informal learning.
H2o Architects eschewed a typical skillion The new building has been oriented to
roof in favor of an asymmetrical ridge to refer- maximize north and south aspects and limit
ence the expansive landscape. The intense, exposure to the east and west. Sizing and place-
ever-­changing hues of the landscape are re- ment of windows balances the need for natural
flected in the colorful Swisspearl cladding of light, views, heat gain, and heat loss. Sun pro-
the upper section of the façade with irregular, tection to the north is provided by translucent
dynamic shapes in blue and orange hues that polycarbonate sheeting preventing direct sun-
read as a single, continuous surface. The ma- light and overheating. The use of bright colors
sonry plinth responds to the earthy materiality on the exterior of the building reduces solar
and colors of the existing campus. Ribbons of gain, while internally, light colors reduce the
undulating windows puncture the variegated need for artificial lighting.
blockwork patterns along the plinth. The high
west façade contrasts with the sense of enclo-

69
LOCATION: 11Leith Road, Montrose, Australia The picturesque façade
CLIENT: VSBA, Montrose Primary School, Montrose plays with and picks
ARCHITECTS: H2o, Collingwood up on the hues of the
landscape and the sky,
BUILDING PERIOD: 2020
thus blending into the
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Jointly, North Melbourne
hilly landscape. The
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Topaz 7073,
Swiss­pearl panels were
Zenor 45047, 47030, 63077 cut precisely to the origi-
nal and assembled on
site like a mosaic. By off-
setting the upper, darker
part of the building
from the lighter base,
the building volume
appears smaller.

70 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

71
72 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 OZOLA & BULA ARCHITECTS

Held by
Yellow Planes
Bergi Music and Art School, Garkalnes Novads, Latvia

Located near Riga in Latvia, Ozola and Bula Architect’s

new Music and Art School consists of three distinct volumes
that step down in response to the slope of the terrain.
An outdoor stepped walkway and an indoor corridor link the
three colorful volumes to one another.

Commissioned by the Garkalnes municipality, small body of water. The two upper floors of the
the Bergi Music and Art School was completed triple-story building cantilever slightly above a
in 2018. The scenic site is surrounded by green plinth of grey-tiled walls. This plinth elevates
fields and a forest to the rear of the grounds. the upper levels and creates a sense of loftiness.
Rather than reflecting the existing buildings, The bright colors of the façades clad in Swiss­
the new volume speaks an utterly different ar- pearl panels have been chosen to reflect the
chitectural language. While the existing build- verdant surrounding environment.
ings have pitched roofs and are plastered in A long corridor links the classrooms, which
white paint with vertical fenestration, the new are paired, toward one another. A large indoor
detached wing has flat roofs, a colorful façade, sports hall is situated to the rear of the build-
and continuous strips of horizontal glazing that ing. Currently, the first-phase campus has been
run across the entire length of the distinct vol- completed, within which classrooms for the
umes. The narrow, yellow and light-purple ­elementary-level children, a gym, and a school
strips further emphasize the horizontal sub­ canteen are accommodated. As the population
division of the façades. The side façades struc- in this area around Riga is growing steadily, the
turing the building volumes, in contrast, are all second phase of the scheme will be built in the
clad in light-yellow Swisspearl panels and do near future, in order to accommodate middle
not have any openings, thus creating a strong school and high school classrooms as well as a
sense of orientation with all the classrooms large public hall for social events.
looking out across the campus grounds and the

73
 261_BergiMusicAndArtPrimarySchool
1_BergiMusicAndArtPrimarySchool
1 cm

_GarkalnesNovads_Latvia
arkalnesNovads_Latvia
ale: 1:700 Scale: 1:700

LK+UK

VENT

LK+UK EL VENT

LK

LK

VENT

LK+UK

LK+UK
VENT

UK

UK

LK

EL

LK LK LK EL VENT LK LK
VENT AVK

UK

EL

UK

VENT

FIRST FLOOR 1:700 SECOND FLOOR

74 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

 The school is located on
the edge of the growing
region of Riga and is sur-
rounded by dense forests.
The extension, built on
the sloping terrain, is
divided into three building
volumes, which are clearly
distinguishable by their
yellow compartments. The
classrooms are oriented
towards the small lake;
the gym and cafeteria
occupy the rear wing of
the building.

LOCATION: Skolas iela 8, Upesciems, Garkalnes Novads, Latvia

CLIENT:Garkalne district council, Garkalne
ARCHITECTS: Ozola & Bula, Riga
BUILDING PERIOD: 2018
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Ostas celtnieks, Riga
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Planea special color

75
76 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 DTA ARCHITECTS

Swisspearl and
Stone Combined
Amnis Student Accommodation, Cork, Ireland

Located on a prominent site between Western Road and

the River Lee in Cork, DTA Architects’ new student
accommodation provides 190 student bedrooms with ensuite
bathrooms in 28 cluster apartments, with reception and
communal amenity facilities on ground floor.

Finding suitable accommodation for students The form and massing respond to the par-
often poses a problem due to lack of housing ticular scale and context of Western Road and
stock and high rental prices. DTA’s new Amnis the River Lee, while establishing the building’s
House in Cork, Ireland’s second largest city in singular presence at an urban scale. Floor lev-
the south of the island, helps to alleviate this els are clearly expressed in horizontal, light-
issue. grey granite-clad bands, with the plan configu-
The U-shaped layout of the building cre- ration of the central floors offset against the
ates a communal courtyard that frames and orthogonal set-backs on the ground floor. The
defines a staged spatial progression from the zones between these granite bands are infilled
“hard” urban streetscape through to the con- with a rainscreen façade of aluminum-frame
trastingly “soft” verdant riverbank. From West- windows alternating with Swisspearl fiber ce-
ern Road, steps, a ramp, and lift are mediating ment panels in vertical bands of ochres and
devices between public footpath and the raised, greys. A pallet of six colors, composed across
semi-private deck. A continuous, sloped hard- each façade in alternating color groupings,
wood boardwalk wrapping a central spine of achieves a unified overall composition while
concrete tree planters forms an anchoring de- also reducing the scale of the building and re-
vice and delivers a seamless transition from flecting the interior layout of the individual
deck to the ecologically sensitive riverside en- units and common areas. The light-hearted
vironment. In response to a high-risk of flood- façades create a distinctive identity appropri-
ing, the entire building has been raised above ate to the prominent urban location and the
the level of Western Road, creating a new end-user demographic, namely, young students.
ground with a floodable under-croft; open, but
screened from flood debris and, critically, main-
taining flood plain capacity.

77
78 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 With its shape and orienta-
tion, the house responds to
various conditions at the site.
Towards the street it appears
as a closed unit while opening
up in the direction of the river
and creating an attractive
exterior space.

79
m 97_AmnisStudentAcoomodation_ Between the granite-clad

Cork_Ireland
floor slabs are floor-to-
ceiling Swisspearl panels
in six color shades from
ochre yellow to grey. The
colored bands wrapped
horizontally around
the house give the house

Scale: 1:800 its own character. The

windows for ventilation
are safely housed next
to the fixed glazing

97_AmnisStudentAcoomodation and behind the milled

Swiss­pearl panels.

Cork_Ireland
THIRD FLOOR

Scale: 1:800

SECOND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR 1:800

LOCATION: Western Road, Cork, Ireland

CLIENT: Global Student Accommodation, Pembroke
ARCHITECTS: DTA Architects, Dublin
BUILDING PERIOD: 2019
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: SIAC Roofing & Cladding, Cork
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Sahara 7002, Onyx 7090, 7091,
Nobilis Crystal 125, Reflex Platinum 9020, Gold 9272

80 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

81
82 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 HOK

A Collaborative
Research Center
Rowan University, Science and Education Building, Camden, USA

The Joint Health Sciences Center exemplifies

Camden’s resurgence as a hub for medical research and education.
The 9,290-square-meter facility has been designed to bring
together students from different academic disciplines
to share laboratories, equipment, and classrooms, exposing
them to a broader educational experience.

The objectives of Camden’s new Joint Health collaboration. Approximately two-thirds of the
Sciences Center are first, to support initiatives space is dedicated to research, multi-purpose
that lead to the development of products and rooms, and offices focused on biomedical re-
to bring those products to market; second, to search. Communal areas include a first-floor
attract research-based businesses, which, in café and a rooftop terrace with views across
turn, help build the economy of South Jersey, the city.
and finally, to develop pathways to improve the The building has been expressed as an en-
population’s health programs. This multidis­ semble of volumes clad in various materials.
ciplinary science and education building in By subdividing the L-shaped form into separate
Camden’s “eds and meds” corridor brings to- volumes of varying heights and combining glass
gether academic programs from three separate and Swisspearl panels, the scale of the four-
institutions in a collaborative research envi­ story facility has been significantly reduced.
ronment. The building is used by Rowan Uni- A glazed volume cantilevers up towards the
versity, Rutgers-Camden, and Camden County northeastern street corner intersection, and the
College for research, education, and training light-grey Swisspearl cladding is cut at an an-
as well as by the Cooper Medical School and gle on the northern elevation, thus creating a
the Joint Board of Governors administrators, sense of dynamic. A random pattern of lighter
who will also have a presence in the facility. and darker grey Swisspearl panels mounted
The design incorporates the MESH Economy vertically creates a playful aesthetic. The en-
Model that collocates faculty and students from trances of the facility have been emphasized
different disciplines to share equipment and by cantilevered slabs extending out into the
facilities. This strategy saves money and spurs pedestrian sidewalk zone.

83
6_RowanRutgersJointHealth
iencesCenter_Camden_NewJersey
SA
ale: 1:1200

LOCATION: 201 South Broadway, Camden, NJ, USA

CLIENT:Rowan University, Rutgers-Camden and
ִ ִ

ֱ
Camden County College (Joint Ownership)
ARCHITECTS: HOK, Philadelphia, PA
BUILDING PERIOD: 2018–2019
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Town and Country Roofing
and Siding, Inc., Bensalem, PA
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Crystal 7010 (HR),
Reflex Crystal 4111
ִ

Ќ A Ћ 7 ŐA    7ִ 7О Ő Ќ Ќ A ฌ

FIRST FLOOR 1:1200

84 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

The L-shaped building
has two faces. On the
entrance side, the build-
ing has been divided
into ­different volumes
of varying heights. The
building seems to fur-
ther dissolve due to the
façade design with
variously colored Swiss­
pearl panels and glass.
The north-facing façade
is clad in light-grey
Swiss­pearl panels. Inside,
in addition to the lecture
rooms are also practice
and application areas,
such as those found in
hospitals.

85
86 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 DRAVITZKI BROWN

House Above
the Water
Lakes Edge House, Queenstown, New Zealand

Perched on a narrow, sloping site above Lake Wakatipu

in Queenstown, New Zealand, Lakes Edge House
enjoys superb views of the lake and the surrounding
mountainous landscape. With its timber-clad
base and dark Swisspearl-clad upper level, the house
seems to hover precariously above the site.

By using the topography as an asset rather than A wide palette of materials has been combined
a liability, Dravitzki Brown Architects have to create texture and give the house a haptic
managed to create a bold architectural state- quality. These include: concrete, cedar, stone,
ment in the landscape. Lakes Edge House is a and Swisspearl fiber cement panels. The con-
compact double-story, single-family house ac- crete structure frees the façades as curtain
commodating three double bedrooms and a walls in glass that open up to the magnificent
single bedroom, all with ensuite bathrooms on lake views and make you feel a part of the nat-
the upper level. This is also where the double ural landscape. Cedar lattice ceilings and tim-
garage and the entry hall are situated. The up- ber veneer walls create a warm, cozy atmo-
per level forms a deep cantilever over the lower sphere and tie the building into the surround-
level, which makes the house seem to hover ing natural landscape. By creating a continuous
above the steep site. Cedar shutters in the bed- surface of cedar from inside to outside and
rooms allow users to manipulate the façade to frame­less glass on the northern end of the liv-
create openness or privacy depending on re- ing room, the boundary between the interior
quirements. Both double bedrooms facing and exterior has been blurred. The smooth,
north open onto a sunny balcony that extends dark Swisspearl panels create a contrast of color
across the entire width of the plan. From the and texture and are an appropriate choice of
entry, one descends to the lower level where material to express the house’s abstract nature.
the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living areas Rob and Marie Wales, the owners of Lakes
are situated. A few steps down is an outdoor Edge, say that they “are thrilled at how our
barbecue area with a circular stone fireplace vision was transformed into the home we
and its very own draught beer. From the out- wanted—it’s beautiful, meets all of our require-
door area, concrete steps descend all the way to ments, and is a joy to live in.”
the water’s edge.

87
FIRST FLOOR 1:300 SECOND FLOOR

Scale: 1:300
NewZealand
273_LakesEdge_Queenstown_ 1 cm

LOCATION: Queenstown, New Zealand

CLIENT:private
ARCHITECTS: Dravitzki Brown, Queenstown
CONSTRUCTION PERIOD: 2019–2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Carpentry South Ltd, Gore
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Black Opal 7024

88 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

The house sits on a narrow,
sloping terrain. Due to
the cantilever of the upper
floor, the building seems
to float above the site. The
quiet façade of Swisspearl
panels and glass is accentu-
ated by the use of wood.
The angled wooden slats on
the upper floor protect
against unwanted views and
guide the gaze to the
­fantastic view over the
lake.

89
90 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 JAKUB SUCHARSKI

One House,
Two Faces
Herba House, Torun, Poland

Herba House has two distinct faces, closed to the street and
open to the river. The “house” to the street facing
northward is clad in black Swisspearl panels, while the southern
part of the house consist of terraces that open out onto
the riverside and cascade down the slope.

It would be easy enough not to recognize that further separates the open and closed north
the northern side of Herba House is the same and south zones of the house. A vertical wall
building as the southern side. Architect Jakub embraces the southern section of the house and
Sucharski has conceived a building with two creates a further physical demarcation between
highly contrasting and distinctive faces: closed the distinct front and rear faces of the house.
and opaque with a pitched roof to the northern All of the bedrooms and communal spaces,
street side, open and glazed with a flat roof to open-plan living, dining, and kitchen open out
the southern side overlooking the river. The to the south facing the river, which is a conser-
site is located between the river protection vation zone. These spaces are bathed in natural
zone and the historic listed zone near the his- light. Sucharski sought to blur the boundaries
torical center of Torun City in northern Poland. between indoors and outdoors by specifying
The dark pitched roof volume to the street large glazed sliding doors opening onto wide
side has been designed in deference to the local terraces that seem to cascade down the sloping
character of the streetscape. The uniform clad- site. Furthermore, both indoors and outdoors,
ding in black Swisspearl fiber cement panels the floors are finished in timber, again blurring
across the façades and roof as well as the lack the distinction between outdoor and indoor
of an eave overhang create an abstraction of the spaces. A generous outdoor living space on the
formal notion of a house. Located in this vol- ground floor terrace cantilevers dramatically
ume are the double garage, laundry, and tech- over the slope. The architect has used planting
nical rooms. A single, large horizontal window and glazed balustrades to invite the natural
faces onto the street. The internal staircase landscape and views into the living areas of the
between the front and the rear of the house cre- house.
ates a clear intermediary circulation zone and

91
92 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
93
 272_HerbaHouse_Torun_Poland
1 cm

_HerbaHouse_Torun_Poland
Scale: 1:500
le: 1:500

LOCATION: Torun, Poland

CLIENT:private
ARCHITECTS: Jakub Sucharski, Poznan
BUILDING PERIOD: 2017
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Bausan Aluminium, Torun
MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Black Opal 7021 (R), 7024 FIRST FLOOR 1:500

94 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

The street side of the
house speaks a completely
different language than
the garden side.

Facing the street, it pres-

ents itself as an abstract
building with a gable roof.
The façade and roof are
clad entirely in black
Swiss­pearl panels. Towards
the sloping garden, the
house seems to dissolve
into levels that erase the
boundaries between in-
door and outdoor spaces,
thus blending the living
space with a nature vista.

95
96 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30
 BADRAL BAYARAA

Self-Sufficient Living
Wiki House, Gachuurt, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

As a society, we face huge construction challenges: we not only need

to build millions of homes, schools, and other buildings,
but these buildings need to be low-energy, low-carbon, and built to
maximize our wellbeing. Wiki House in Mongolia has
been constructed using a digitally manufactured building
technology with low carbon emissions, minimizing heat loss and
waste. It is also energy efficient and was easy to construct.

Gachuurt, a village east of Ulaanbaatar, is one The home is built on a timber platform that is
of the coldest places on earth. The extreme sea- supported by three steel I-beams above the
sonal changes record highs of 36 degrees Cel- rocky terrain, and is the first house in Mongo-
sius and plunging temperatures of minus 42 lia to use this technology. With its simple,
­degrees during the long winter months. But pitched roof, the cabin reinterprets the sin-
Wiki House does not need to be heated during gle-story, cabin-like houses that are scattered
the daytime in winter, as it is heated by sunlight throughout Gachuurt. For the exterior clad-
and has minimum heat loss. The compact cabin ding, the architects chose a combination of un-
is a pertinent example of an environmentally-­ treated timber and red Swisspearl panels. The
friendly building that addresses the building architects found that “the Swisspearl panels
­industry’s challenges. not only pair well with the color of the wood,
A mere 27 square meters in size, it accom- but also blend in with the surroundings, whilst
modates a single bedroom, bathroom, and making the building stand out.” Wiki House
open-plan kitchen / dining / living area that certainly creates an accent of bright color in the
opens onto an outdoor deck overlooking the tawny-colored Mongolian hills.
vast expanse of desolate landscape surround-
ing the house.

97
 1 cm 257_WikiHouse_Ulaanbaatar_
Mongolia

Scale: 1:100

kiHouse_Ulaanbaatar_
ia

1:100

FIRST FLOOR 1:100

LOCATION: TsergiinBulag, Gachuurt, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

CLIENT:private
ARCHITECTS: Badral Bayaraa, Ulaanbaatar
CONSTRUCTION PERIOD: 2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Render LLC, Ulaanbaatar
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Coral 7031

98 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

The small house asserts
itself in the harsh climate
of Mongolia. Due to
its compact and well-
insulated design, it defies
the long winter months
and does not require
heating during the day
even in sub-zero tempera-
tures.

The shape of the house is

based on the small, one-
story houses that charac-
terize the landscape in
this area. The wooden
house stands on a wooden
platform with an I-beam
underneath, which stands
out from the stony floor.
On the front side and
below the eaves edge,
where the façade is par-
ticularly stressed, both
functional and design
accents were set within
the red, robust Swisspearl
panels.

99
Flash 1

Carbona
Apartments,
Hévíz, Hungary
BM Építész Kft.

This apartment block in Hévíz, Hungary is

an excellent example of how Swisspearl
panels can be implemented in diverse ways
to adorn façades. Custom-made patterns
have been cut into the panels to create
lively patterns. The curve of the primary
body of the apartment building is em­
phasized by a projecting entry structure
that has been clad in such perforated
Swiss­pearl panels. The delicate round per-
forations in varying sizes form an organic
pattern and allow rays of light to shine
through the panels. Swisspearl panels have
also been employed as vertical sliding
shutters on the balconies of the upper
floors.

LOCATION: Hévíz, Hungary

CLIENT:Preventimed XXI Kft., Budapest
ARCHITECTS: BM Építész Kft., Budapest
BUILDING PERIOD: 2020
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Meilinger Kft., Győr
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Carat Onyx
7090 (perforated)

100 SWISSPEARL ARCHITECTURE #30

Flash 2

Forbes Office
Building, Annapolis,
USA
GriD Architects

107 Forbes is a new, single-tenant office

building facing Rowe Boulevard, a promi-
nent location at the gateway to the city’s
historic center and West Annapolis neigh-
borhood. The new building replaces a
group of commercial buildings along Rowe
Boulevard. In order to get permission
for the building, it had to fit within the ex-
isting footprint and maintain a similar
volume, height, and floor area. The ground
floor façade is constructed from timber
cladding and glass, while the upper floor
is clad in thin horizontal strips of over­
lapping grey Swisspearl panels. Large win-
dows bring ample light into the interior.
The upper floor cantilevers over the lower
level longitudinally creating the impres-
sion of a floating box.

LOCATION: 107 Forbes Street, Annapolis,

MD, USA
CLIENT: MRE Capital, Annapolis, MD
ARCHITECTS: GriD Architects, Annapolis, MD
BUILDING PERIOD: 2019
FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION: Chesapeake Siding
Contractors, Inc., Elkridge, MD
FAÇADE MATERIAL: Swisspearl Largo Reflex Dark
Silver 9222

101
Impressum Contacts
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Credits
Photos Legal notes
Front cover, p. 2/3, 4 bottom, 8 / 9, 12–16 Texts, images, photos, and graphic work in
Steinkamp Photography, this publication are protected by copy-
James Steinkamp, Hinsdale, IL right and other intellectual property rights.
p. 4 above, 6 / 7 Peter Molick Photography, Rights to the texts are owned by the
Houston, TX authors in all cases. The contents of this
p. 20 Theo Herzog, St. Gallen ­publication may not be copied, distributed,
p. 22 Andrea Badrutt, Chur altered, or made available to third parties
p. 23 above Ivan Brodey, Oslo for commercial purposes. Furthermore,
p. 23 middle Acorn Photo, Robert Frith, some pages i­ nclude images, the copyrights
­Subiaco of which are owned by third parties.
p. 23 bottom left Jürg Hostettler, Zurich
This publication has been assembled with
p. 23 bottom right Meraner & Hauser, Bozen
the greatest possible care. Nevertheless,
p. 24–31 Samuel Trümpy Photography,
the publisher cannot guarantee freedom
­Ennenda
from error and the complete accuracy of the
p. 33 Daniela Droz & Tonatiuh Ambrosetti
information it contains. The plans have
Photographes, Penthalaz
been kindly provided by the architects. The
p. 34 / 35 Gianni Bomèn, Zurich
detailed plans have been reworked for
p. 36, 38–43 Meraner & Hauser, Bozen
greater legibility; the editors are not able to
p. 44–49 Ema Peter Photography, North
guarantee their accuracy.
Vancouver, BC
p. 50–55 Architekturfotograf Rasmus
­Norlander, Zurich
p. 52 bottom Sunniva Rosenberg, Oslo
p. 56–59 Bert Leandersson, Gothenburg
p. 60–67 Kevin Scott, Seattle, WA
p. 70 / 71 Michael Gazzola, Fitzroy
p. 72–81 Meraner & Hauser, Bozen
p. 82–85 James Ewing / JBSA, New York
p. 86–89 Dravitzki Brown Architecture,
­Dalefield
p. 90–95 Jakub Certowicz, Piechowice
p. 96–99 Luubat Gansukh, Ulaanbaatar
p. 100 Meraner & Hauser, Bozen
p. 101, Back Cover Brycen Fischer, Baltimore,
MD
Colors
Swisspearl offers a great number of different colors and ­
surfaces. The complete current range is shown here.
Next to each sample are the page numbers in the current
issue where examples of its use can be found.

Carat Vintago Nobilis

Sahara 7000 VI 001 Crystal 122
Sahara 7001 VI 011 Crystal 123
Sahara 7002 → p. 76 VI 021 Crystal 124
Crystal 7010 → p. 82 VI 031 Crystal 125 → p. 76
Black Opal 7020 VI 040 Anthracite 221
Black Opal 7021 → p. 50, 90 VI 050 Azurite 421
Black Opal 7024 → p. 44, 86, 90 VI 061 Azurite 422
Black Opal 7025 → p. 56 VI 071 Jade 521
Coral 7030 VI 091 Jade 522
Coral 7031 → p. 96 VI 100 Granite 622
Coral 7032 Granite 624
Azurite 7040 Vintago-Reflex Amber 721
Azurite 7041 VIR 9000 Amber 723
Jade 7050 VIR 9221
Sapphire 7060 → p. 2, 60 VIR 9292 Terra
Sapphire 7061 Amber 751
Topaz 7070 Avera Amber 752
Topaz 7071 AV 000 Amber 753
Topaz 7073 → p. 68 AV 010 Amber 754
Amber 7080 AV 020 Amber 755
Amber 7082 AV 030 Amber 756
Onyx 7090 → p. 60, 76, 100 AV 040
Onyx 7091 → p. 76 AV 050 Planea
Onyx 7099 → p. 2 AV 060 Skyligth 131
Agate 7219 AV 070 Midnight 231
AV 100 Coral 331
Gravial Dragon 332
Crystal 125 Reflex Crimson 333
Granite 624 Anthracite 4021 Ruby 334
Amber 723 Anthracite 4022 Cactus 531
Anthracite 3020 Coral 4031 Jungle 532
Ivory 3090 Jade 4051 Sunrise 831
Ivory 3099 Amber 4071 Sunset 832
Amber 4072 Snowflake 930
Ivory 4091 Igloo 932
Ivory 4092 Seashell 933
Crystal 4111 → p. 82
Crystal 4112
Granite 4161
Granite 4162
www.swisspearl.com