Bauart planning is inscribed in a global context.
Because we work in a global context, urban planning is essential to us. Urban scale requires interdisciplinary thinking. Thus, we take into account various planning levels and focus on infrastructure networks. We are attentive to community relations and seek to establish a dialogue with all involved stakeholders. By combining planning, urbanism and architecture, we establish and design places to live with a strong identities. We generate added value and contribute to fighting against urban sprawl.
Our program is our challenge:
planning in a spirit of dialogue, using networks with a view to the long term.
1860
Between 1860 and 1880, 200’000 cubic meters of rock are extracted to build the station and the rail tracks. The rubble was taken away by a provisory transport installation and released into the lake. The result was the simultaneous creation of two new plateaus, one at station’s level and the other one by the lakeside, where a new residential neighborhood is constructed.
1890
By the end of the 20th century, the Crêt-Taconnet site is encircled by the station and the city, and becomes one of its neighborhoods. After more than a century of railway, handicraft and industrial use, land located to the east of the station becomes gradually underexploited, gradually creating an urban wasteland.
1987
The development of the Ecoparc project on the Gare / Crêt-Taconnet plateau in Neuchâtel is the regeneration of an urban wasteland by creating a sustainable neighborhood. It provides an illustration of the services offered by Bauart in the field of urbanism. The latter cover all phases of planning, from initial analysis to building construction. They include in particular needs’ analysis, project development, finalization of regulatory documents, site management and piloting of the operation.
1989
In the context of the federal administration’s commitment to decentralization, the construction of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office’s building is planned on the land to the east of Neuchâtel train station. A project competition is organized under the umbrella of the Confederation for the construction of the new building, as well as an idea competition for the densification of the neighboring area.
1990
Bauart Architects and Planners Ltd wins the architectural competition for the construction of the new Swiss Federal Statistics Office’s building as well as the idea competition for the urban development concept for the densification of the Gare / Crêt-Taconnet plateau. The project forgoes the covering of the rail tracks and recommends the construction of a linear building along the railways.
1993
The construction of the new Swiss Federal Statistics Office’s building begins. The existing warehouses on the perimeter are carefully dismantled and the materials are offered free of charge. 80% of the materials could thus be reused. A modular wooden construction is built to host the construction management throughout the duration of the works.
1994
The proposals made by Bauart during the idea competition are integrated in the new master plan of the City of Neuchâtel. The Gare / Crêt-Taconnet site is declared “Strategic development area”.
1995
As of 1995, Bauart launches the planning of a project for the whole plateau. The project’s perimeter is thus expanded towards the east, integrating several existing buildings. The principle of a linear building along the railways is extended, which leads to the emergence of a 500 m building front concept. The prospect of a new neighborhood is progressively taking shape.
1996
During the construction of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office, the sector’s land owners commission Bauart to realize a project for the entire Gare / Crêt-Taconnet plateau to create a global vision of the neighborhood and coordinate the approach with the City of Neuchâtel. At that time, the latter is reviewing its land development plan and seeking investors. The project includes the construction of administrative and school buildings along the railways, as well as the definition of the plateau boundaries by residential buildings.
1997
The ecological design of the Statistics Office building attracts interest from multiple individuals and institutions. In order to expand this spirit to the neighboring area, Bauart initiates a working group gathering public and private actors, using sustainable development as a central unifying element. The result is the Ecoparc concept, both a pilot neighborhood and an association to promote sustainable development in the built environment.
1998
The new building of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office is completed and put into use. It allows the creation of 400 new permanent jobs and 300 new temporary ones. The building’s innovative design is awarded the Swiss Solar Prize and the European Solar Prize.
1999
Confirming the project’s urban planning principles at regulatory level, Neighborhood plans of “Crêt-Taconnet Est” and “Crêt-Taconnet Nord et Ouest” are developed by Bauart in collaboration with the City of Neuchâtel. Their entry into force creates the necessary framework conditions for the construction of this part of the city.
1999
Shortly after the new building’s completion, the Swiss Federal Statistics Office finds itself cramped for space. Bauart is commissioned to study an extension to the west side, which takes the form of a tower in accordance with the competition’s proposition. In order to give more dynamism to the volume and to increase its integration into the overall composition, the initially planned rectangle is transformed into a hexagon. In agreement with the City of Neuchâtel, the tower’s height is set at 50 meters.
2000
Bauart is committed to looking for investors for buildings situated to the east of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office’s building. Consisting of rented apartments, the new constructions will be realized by Helvetia Patria. An existing building will be transformed into owner-occupied apartments.
2000
The Canton of Neuchâtel commissions Bauart to study the feasibility of building two new cantonal schools in the neighborhood. The study highlights the great interest of the site for this type of program. It also shows that sharing spaces between the two institutions allows creating synergies and enables surface savings. Both institutions – Music conservatory and Business school – increase the neighborhood’s functional mix.
2001
A study highlights the interest and feasibility of the concept of multiple uses of parking places, which enables reducing the total amount of places. The « global parking » concept also provides for Park+Ride places, which take into consideration the strategic localization of the site as a regional center.
2001
The building situated to the west of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office is demolished to enable the construction site of the SFSO Tower. The realization of this building, both an extension of the main building and a significant urban landmark, can then begin.
2002
The design of exterior layouts, realized in collaboration with Paysagestion, is taking shape. Their quality and consistency with the mixed activities are significant factors for the functional quality of squares and streets. Their own identity and their continuity with other parts of the city must therefore be optimally guaranteed.
2002
The construction of the first residential buildings situated on the eastern part of the plateau starts, marking the beginning of the regeneration of ancient industrial structures. The first stage includes three buildings, representing 2 offices and 58 apartments, of which 10 lofts.
2003
The 15-storey tower situated on Europe Square is completed and put into operation. It provides about 240 additional work places for the Swiss Federal Statistics Office. Designed as a new urban landmark, this tower is also an identification element of the station, slightly outside of the city’s historic center. It symbolizes in an emblematic way the densification dynamics of the new neighborhood.
2004
The loft-apartments in the former industrial building and the first two rented apartments buildings are completed and put into service. Other residential buildings, in the continuity of the first stage, are designed in accordance with the neighborhood plan’s guidelines.
2004
Bauart is commissioned by SBB to realize a feasibility study for the linear building situated in the western part of the site, between the railway tracks and Swiss Federal Statistics Office’s building.
2005
The construction of the two cantonal institutions, comprising part of the global parking system, begins on the plateau. The residential buildings’ second stage occurs simultaneously, which allows visualization of the Ecoparc neighborhood.
2005
After the feasibility study, Bauart is commissioned to realize the project for the last piece of the urban ensemble, called “TransEurope”. The objective is the building’s optimal integration into the urban context, as well as the development of mixed-use planning, in order to guarantee the structure’s functional flexibility and to bring additional dynamism to the neighborhood.
2007
All the residential buildings situated on the eastern part of the neighborhood are built and about 100 apartments with various typologies and dimensions are put into service.
2009
The building hosting the cantonal institutions is operational, including the underground car-park shared by schools and housing. Regarding exterior layouts, a new gateway is considered at the end of the plateau in order to establish a connection between the Ecoparc neighborhood and the Mail campus, situated close by.
2009
The “TransEurope” building is achieved in stages to complete the Ecoparc neighborhood. After 20 years of planning and development, this element marks the end of the regeneration of the industrial brownfield of the “Gare / Crêt-Taconnet” plateau. It opens a new chapter in the city’s history. Integrating sustainability principles into its design, this neighborhood marks a new stage in its lifecycle and will undergo other evolution and renovation processes in the future.
2009
TransEurope - final section of the Ecoparc neighborhood: Beginning of construction of the first stage of the TransEurope building.
2011
TransEurope - final section of the Ecoparc neighborhood: End of the first phase of construction of the TransEurope building, for a total area of approx. 12’000 m2 hosting University of Applied Sciences HE-Arc at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year.
2013
The Millennium gateway, connecting the Station plateau and the Mail hill, is officially inaugurated on July 3rd. Its architectural and structural concept stems from a careful reading of the site’s historical, morphological and spatial features.
2015
TransEurope - final section of the Ecoparc neighborhood: Beginning of the second phase of construction of the TransEurope building, on a total area of approx. 2’800 m2.