#rudolf guyer

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Gewerbeschulhaus Unterstrass (1972-76) in Zurich, Switzerland, by Esther & Rudolf Guyer

[elarafritzenwalden]

Former African House at the Zürich Zoo Zürichberg - Zürich, Switzerland; 1960-65

Esther + Rudolf Guyer, Rudolf Zürcher (photography by Peter Grünert)

see map | related information 1, 2, 3

via "Anthos: Zeitschrift für Landschaftsarchitektur" 10 (1971)

[germanpostwarmodern]

In 1963 Swiss architect Fritz Schwarz was commissioned to convert a gravel silo into a holiday home. This conversion entailed blasting openings in the massive concrete structure, a happening-like procedure which the architect also captured on film. These impressive pictures in turn inspired Andri Gerber and Martin Tschanz to the title of the present book: „Sprengkraft Raum - Architektur um 1970 von Esther und Rudolf Guyer, Manuel Pauli, Fritz Schwarz und Pierre Zoelly“, published late last year by Park Books. With the book the editors seek to draw attention to a somewhat overlooked generation of architects whose career had its first peak around 1970, namely Esther & Rudolf Guyer, Manuel Pauli, Fritz Schwarz and Pierre Zoelly: they all had studied at ETH Zurich and befriended each other during this time. With regards to their architecture it was, as Andri Gerber and Martin Tschanz demonstrate in their essays, a particular conception of space that connected them: although not quite as explosive as the book’s title indicates the spatial quality of the five’s buildings is at least surprising against the background of a recognizable dichotomy between inside and outside. Visiting the buildings of the architects with their students Gerber and Tschanz report a certain astonishment on the part of the students as they often hadn’t expected the spatial experiences awaiting them behind the respective buildings’ facades. In fact the buildings reveal their real spatial quality only at first-hand experience as not even floor plans indicate their sophistication. Despite rather straightforward plans and the occasional use of building systems the architects through clever variation and the creative shaping of walls and other non-load bearing elements designed surprising interior spaces. These qualities are further highlighted in a selection of twelve buildings, each of them comprehensively documented in plans, sections, models, photos and insightful texts.

With that said the present volume is hopefully capable of awakening increased interest in the architects and their generation because there is quite something to discover.

[germanpostwarmodern]

Fondli School (1965) in Dietikon, Switzerland, by Esther & Rudolf Guyer

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Kantonales Lehrerseminar (1965-72) in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, by Esther & Rudolf Guyer

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Stettbach School (1964-67) in Zurich, Switzerland, by Esther & Rudolf Guyer

[germanpostwarmodern]

Triemli Tower (1966) in Zurich, Switzerland, by Esther & Rudolf Guyer

[germanpostwarmodern]

Gewerbeschulhaus Unterstrass (1972-76) in Zurich, Switzerland, by Esther & Rudolf Guyer