Detail Prize 2012: Pädagogische Hochschule

Nominated for DETAIL Prize 2012: Pädagogische Hochschule, Chur, Schweiz
Architekturbüro Horváth

The Pädagogische Hochschule Graubünden in Chur, Switzerland, from the years 1977 to 1994 was extended by the Swiss architects' office Pablo Horváth with the addition of a media library and two auditoriums. Sculpturally designed concrete buildings, combined with rough-sawn slate boarding, are the characterising feature of the architecture. This feature has also been incorporated in the new building, which has been added in the form of a plastically shaped monolith with its own personality. In the interior, smooth white wall surfaces stress the cubic spatial forms and reflect the light far into the inside of the structure. The white cladding of the rooms creates a light-flooded, neutral atmosphere for concentrated working in the entire building. A setting for the mountain panorama is created by a large window opening in the unsupported space of the media library, which is divided into different zones by means of varying room heights. Under the white inner shell, there is space for all the technical equipment, as a result of which the simple shape of the rooms is enhanced. The building complies with the requirements of the minimum energy standard.

DETAIL Prize 2012: Online Reader Voting The main prize – the DETAIL Prize 2012 – will be picked by an internationally renowned jury, while the winner of the Reader Prize will be chosen by the readers themselves in an online voting procedure specially set up for this purpose. Choose your favourite project until September 20th!   Further information on DETAIL Prize 2012