Bauart stands for an architecture that is both rooted in building culture and oriented towards future challenges.
Creativity and innovation are at the heart of our approach, along with a holistic and multi-scalar consideration of the many topics inherent to the art of building. Whether transforming existing structures or realizing new projects, our architectural design process and our quest for tailor-made solutions are guided by the constant pursuit of a balance between cultural, social, ecological, climatic, and economic aspects.
Profile
Our primary goal is to contribute significantly to the qualitative transformation of the built environment. In this spirit, our approach to architecture is free of dogmatism and is based first and foremost on a careful reading of the sites we work on and the programmes entrusted to us. To address the entire life cycle of a building, we aim for architectural concepts that are original, clear, coherent, and resilient. From the design of transitioning neighbourhoods to the development of construction details, our projects are the result of close interaction between the specific requirements of our clients, the expertise of our experienced team, and the interdisciplinary input of our specialised partners.
Key Data
Office founded in 1987
Around 60 employees
3 locations: Bern, Neuchâtel and Zürich
Partners
Raffael Graf, Stefan Graf, Emmanuel Rey, Yorick Ringeisen
Extended Management Team
Pascal Benoit, Stefan Fuchs, Karin Gartmann, Johannes LuginbĂĽhl, Kathrin Merz, Thomas Schmid, Benjamin SchĂĽtz, Michael StĂĽtz, Reto Sulzer, Ariane Wavre
Specific Expertise
Architects, urban planners, architectural draftspersons, apprentices, interns
Fields of Activity
Site development, regeneration of brownfield sites, design of multifunctional neighborhoods, design of spaces dedicated to housing, hospitality, education, culture, research, healthcare, administration, crafts, industry, and local commerce
Specialized Partners
Landscape architects, civil engineers, MEP engineers, construction economists, site managers, artists, graphic designers, and specialized consultants
Associations
SIA, SWB, FSU, EspaceSuisse, Swissolar, Solar Swiss Connect, Cobaty International, Ecoparc
Backround
Bauart’s history is rooted in shared values and pioneering experiences since its founding in Bern in 1987 by Reto Baer, Peter C. Jakob, Willi Frei, Mathias Rindisbacher, and Marco Ryter. From the outset, the office incorporated into its architecture questions that remain highly relevant today—particularly regarding urbanity, energy, ecology, and timber construction. The competition won in 1990 for the Federal Statistical Office building in Neuchâtel marked a key milestone in Bauart’s early development; its momentum gradually extended to the entire station plateau. This project led to the establishment of a second location in Neuchâtel—initially for site supervision and, around the turn of the millennium, as a full-fledged office. The creation of a third office in Zurich in 2008 gave Bauart its current geographical footprint. As the founding partners gradually stepped back, several architects joined the circle of partners, ensuring with the entire team a tangible continuity in values and a constant renewal of practice.
Current Partners
Raffael Graf, since 2014
Stefan Graf, since 2008
Emmanuel Rey, since 2004
Yorick Ringeisen, since 2008
Former Partners
Reto Baer, from 1987 to 1999
Peter C. Jakob, from 1987 to 2022
Willi Frei, from 1987 to 2017
Mathias Rindisbacher from 1987 to 2004
Marco Ryter, from 1987 to 2015
Practice Areas
The core strengths of our practice lie in architectural design – from preliminary studies to commissioning – both for the transformation of existing buildings and for new constructions. Regular participation in architecture competitions, along with contributions to forward-looking studies and research projects, helps maintain an internal dynamic aligned with the constant evolution of our discipline. This includes, among other things, mastery of digital processes, development of modular architecture, and more broadly, our contribution to the transition toward a low-carbon society.
Services
Our services cover all phases of an architectural project, from preliminary studies to commissioning. Thanks to the size of our office and its supra-regional presence, we are able to handle complex projects and lead interdisciplinary processes as general planners.
Our services include in particular:
Strategic planning and studies for site and project development
Feasibility studies for urban and architectural projects
Design, tendering, and execution planning according to SIA phases
General planning
Collaboration with general or turnkey contractors
Planning and development of modular systems
Strategic Foresight
In a time marked by complex challenges and uncertain trends, we believe it is essential to position our architectural approach at the intersection of the core principles of our discipline and the adaptability required for resilience. Moving beyond short-term thinking and fleeting trends, our approach is integrative, exploratory, and systemic. We are supported in this effort by a strategic advisory board, which provides valuable insight into the original development of our activities. Thanks to their broad perspectives and diverse professional backgrounds, the board’s five members offer us their views on major issues shaping today’s society.
Strategic Advisory Board
Andreas Frei, game designer
Hervé Froidevaux, independent advisor
Ulrike Gölker, urban planner and strategic real estate consultant
Judit Solt, architect, editor, and architecture critic
Flavia Wasserfallen, entrepreneur and politician
Anciens membres
Urs Hettich, de 2003 Ă 2004
Peter Stämpfli, de 2003 à 2017
Claire-Lise Vatter, de 2003 Ă 2009
Sabina Lang, de 2003 Ă 2009
Silvano Spezia, de 2005 Ă 2016
Lars Knuchel, de 2017 Ă 2020
Dr. h.c. George J. Steinmann, de 2015 Ă 2020
«The diversity of its skills, its ability to manage complex projects, and its investigative mindset are key assets enabling it to operate across all fields of architecture and urban planning. Furthermore, the integration of sustainability issues, the initiation of innovative approaches, and the constant pursuit of architecture’s contribution to societal challenges give its work a forward-thinking, rich, and refreshing character. These are just some of the reasons why it ranks among Switzerland’s leading and widely recognized architecture firms.»
Delphine Désveaux, «Bauart» in ArchiSTORM, Special Issue 28, 2017.
«The architecture and urban planning firm Bauart stands out for its integration of research into its project approaches. This forward-looking research aims to provide concrete responses to societal challenges. Experimentation is driven both internally within the structure and externally through teaching and academic research. It is precisely this interplay between practice and research that enables Bauart to explore new paths — technological, societal, and aesthetic.»
Béatrice Mariolle, «Penser en systèmes» in ArchiSTORM, Special Issue 28, 2017.
«The word ‹Bauart› consists of ‹Bau› (‹building›) and ‹art›, while alluding to the fact that it is possible to build according to the rules of art and take form and function into account. The name also combines the two languages of German and French, which give Switzerland its special character and cultural differences – a combination of Germanic discipline and Latin flexibility. The Bauart office, which is based on both sides of this so-called ‹Rösti Barrier›, in Neuchâtel, Bern and Zurich, seems to have found a magic formula with which Swiss Architecture gains a radiance reaching far beyond its national boundaries.»
Jean-Paul Felley and Olivier Kaeser, in Emmanuel Rey, «From Spatial Development to Detail», Quart, 2013.