Studio Project 2 of this block at ZHdK. The task was to rethink and renew the interior at the prestigious well-known Volkshaus in the heart of Zurich.
Jonty, Julia and I formed a team and started with analyzing the space. How do we perceive the interior now? SECRETIVE, TRADITIONAL, A BIT OUTDATED or DULL
What would we like the character of the renovated Volkshaus to be? We wanted to keep it STRUCTURED and SECRETIVE, but without being repetitive. Furthermore, we aimed to focus our choices to be SWISS and AUTHENTIC, create a COHERENT concept throughout the whole place and make it more CONTEMPORARY, especially with an improvement of the lighting.
We wanted to keep the little different niches which we found really interesting. However, we developed this idea and loosened up the straight aisle to create more versatile half-hidden spaces (like a maze) who differ in size, sitting options, etc.
We designed new space dividers. The formal language is geometrically more clear, contemporary with a postmodern touch. We chose a dark green sound absorbent textile (Création Baumann) as a cover around a wooden structure which would be custom-made by a carpenter. We played around with different heights to create an interesting, playful yet balanced arrangement of room dividers of different heights. This is an intriguing way to play with leveling and the depth of the space.
The whole floor would have a nice green stone (verde spluga) from the Alpes. We wanted to choose materials and textiles which are produced in Switzerland. A leading way through the restaurant will be made in a traditional fishbone pattern in oak, interlacing with the stone. This is to quote a historic feature, laying it in an unusual way and - in the end - working as footfall insulation.
The neon lighting now is a nice approach, yet still too shy, not connecting with the rest of the restaurant. We want to remove all the little kitschy lighting next to the tables and exaggerate the neon idea. The tubes will come down the ceiling into the room and alongside the walls, reflecting the playful movement of the room dividers to unite the spatial concept and introduce a very contemporary, guiding element of our planned Volkshaus revival.