This project of HHF Architects, whose construction is scheduled for 2019, and which responds to the needs of contemporary metropolitan life seems to want to overcome the historic phrase of the master Le Corbusier that we must remember about the definition of architecture as the wise and correct game of the volumes under the light.
HHF Architects, together with the landscape architects from Westpol, have succeeded in winning an invited competition with their design for a 30-meter-high apartment tower and an adjoining public green space in the Biel community of Mett, Switzerland.
 

Description of the project by HHF Architects

With its distinctive shape, composed of three differently sized cubes piled up at different angles, and the adjoining green public space, the Jardin Métropole is destined to become the symbol of Mett and contribute to the area’s enhancement.

The geometry and alignment of the discrete volumes relate to the neighboring buildings. The freestanding building constitutes the beginning of the new park-like passage to Rue du Moulin. The design builds on the theme of the city garden. Each apartment has access to different green spaces: separate gardens with private planting beds, a shared roof terrace, and landscaped loggias are self-evident offerings for all the residents.

The photovoltaic modules that are integrated in the loft like facade, which is dominated by horizontal ribbon windows, generate a large portion of the energy needed to serve the apartments and the service-sector commercial areas planned for the two bottom stories.

The tower building stands in the tradition of taller expressive buildings in Biel, like the well-known “La Rotonde” at the train station. Taking a cue from that building, the public ground-floor zone of the Jardin Métropole, with its bakery and café, has a circular plan. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019.

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Architects
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HHF Architects
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Collaborators
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Laura Sattin and Eun A. Song, Nadja Uzelac, Monika Wozniak
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Program
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Mixed-Use: Housing, Commercial, Office
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Venue
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Biel, Switzerland
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Dates
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Design: 2016.
Competition: 1st Prize: 2016 (Team: HHF + Westpol)
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Dimensions
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Gross Floor Area: 2,675 m²
Building Volume: 20,470 m³
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Client
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Vitali's Generation AG
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HHF architects is an architectural firm established by Tilo Herlach, Simon Hartmann and Simon Frommenwiler.

Tilo Herlach. He born in 1972 in Zurich, Switzerland. Between 1992 and 1998, Studies in Architecture at ETH Zurich and ETH Lausanne; Masters at ETH Zurich with Prof. Ruggero Tropeano. 1998-2003 Collaboration with d-company, Bern and Rolf Furrer Architekten, Basel. 2003 Founding of HHF architects, Basel. Since 2006 member of the "Board for Urban Planning SIA Basel". Since 2007 Board member of the Berlin Chamber of Architects. 2010 BSA member. 2011 Visiting professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Simon Hartmann. He born in 1974 in Bern, Switzerland. Between 1994 and 2000, Studies in Architecture at ETH Lausanne, TU Berlin and ETH Zurich; Masters at EPF Lausanne with Prof. V. Mangeat. 2000-2003 Collaboration with Rolf Furrer Architekten, Basel. 2002-2007 Teaching assistant at the ETH Studio Basel with Prof. Jaques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Roger Diener, Marcel Meili. 2003 Founding of HHF architects, Babel. 2009-2011 Professor at the HTA Fribourg. 2010 BSA  member. 2011 Visiting professor at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Since 2011 Professor at the Joint Master of Architecture course, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Simon Frommenwiler. He born in 1972 in London, United Kingdom. Between 1994 and 2000, Studies in Architecture at ETH Zurich; Masters with Prof. H. Kollhoff. 1997-2003 Collaborations with Bearth & Deplazes, Chur and Skidmore Owings & Merrill, New York, USA. 2003 Founding of HHF architects, Basel. 2005-2007 Teaching assistant at ETH Lausanne with Prof. Harry Gugger. 2010 BSA member. 2011 Professor at the Joint Master of Architecture course, Fribourg. 2011 Visiting professor at the ENSA Strasbourg, France.

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Published on: February 20, 2017
Cite: "HHF Wins Competition for Tower Building in Biel " METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/hhf-wins-competition-tower-building-biel> ISSN 1139-6415
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