EISCH pavilion
The pavilion project initiated by the Karl Zünd Foundation, is located on the premises of Karl Zünd Systemtechnik. It combines a nature- and a kitchen garden, where a variety of different types of vegetables are grown. The kitchen garden provides vegetables for the staff restaurant of the company Zünd Systemtechnik. People interested can also get a small garden spot to use.
The pavilion is designed to provide shelter from sun and rain, allowing workshops and activities related to the gardening work and to provide a resting space. A wall made of adobe bricks on an elevated open terrace overlooking the nature garden is the main feature of the pavilion. The adobe wall is made of soil excavated from the site and it is defined by openings, niches and shelves which can be used as storage and a seating opportunity. The main challenge of the project is the use of locally available building materials and the reuse of recycled materials from the client’s company and the surrounding area.
Design and construction were carried out by international students of the Postgraduate Degree | BASEhabitat.
Images and Plans
Technical Description
During their three months in Switzerland, the students not only had to design the pavilion, but also had the opportunity to experience all the stages of construction. They learned how to build with earth, lime and wood on a real building site. Studying and discussing architectural solutions and developing details on site was part of the process. The practical work was complemented by critical reflection and the production of a report.
The construction process began by making 1800 adobes (32 x 15 x 8 cm) using earth excavated from the site and mixed with sand and straw. Recycled wood from some broken pallets was used to make the moulds. The drying process took about 10 days. As it was autumn in Switzerland, logistics were very important: the adobes were stored under a roof and turned several times to ensure they were sufficiently dried. They were then placed on pallets and transported to the site, 700 metres away.
The adobe wall, 50cm thick and 2.20m high, is built on a reinforced concrete foundation approximately 50cm wide and 50cm high, while 40cm diameter concrete pipes are used for the foundation of the wooden roof.
A mixture of finely sifted earth, sand and straw was prepared for the mortar between each adobe. When the wall was finished, the inside was plastered with clay plaster. A base layer of 2-3cm was applied first, and then for the top layer we used a mixture of finely sieved slag, fine sand and finely chopped straw. To protect the outside of the wall from the rain, we decided to use lime plaster. Christian Giongo, a local specialist, took the students through the various steps of applying lime plaster to an adobe wall. The process was characterised by the application of two layers of lime plaster to the wall, the last layer being coloured pigment.
The roof structure, including columns, beams, joints and roofing, was designed with the assistance of Norbert Ammann, a local carpenter from Oberriet. His insight and experience helped us to decide which timber dimensions to choose, which joint details and which joints were appropriate for this type of construction. For the preparation and cutting of all the structural parts, the students had the opportunity to work in the woodworking shop of Manser, a local company, where they were able to use professional cutting and drilling tools. Within a week the students managed to cut and assemble all the structural elements of the pavilion roof. All the pre-assembled components were then transported to the site, 500 meters away, and a small crane was used to place the roof structure into the concrete pipes foundations. The timber roof was then covered with a layer of bitumen, over which we built the extensive green roof, using substrate, moss and plants collected from a nearby factory building owned by the client Karl Zünd.
For the pavilion terrace, a raised wooden floor was constructed with the help of Norbert Ammann, by making all the necessary wooden pieces and joints at the Maser woodworking shop. The students were then able to seamlessly install the wooden floor and skirting boards on site.
Because of COVID-19, the project was a quick fix, but as practical experience is part of the curriculum, we were able to complete the postgraduate programme.