Interiors and Architectural Services
Hospitality
Description
This project involved designing a flexible, inclusive bistro that fosters social interaction while respecting the existing architectural structure. The space serves a diverse community, from office workers to locals, blending private retreats with vibrant communal areas. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows connect the interior to the outdoors, enhancing the sense of openness.
Sustainability was central to the design, with careful consideration of material conservation and socio-cultural sustainability, in line with the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard (SNBS). The layout efficiently separates guest and service areas, ensuring a functional and welcoming environment, while the contrast between old and new materials encourages tactile interaction and personal connection.
Publication
Project Type
Hospitality
Adaptive Reuse
Research
Date
Spring, 2024
Location
Biberist, Switzerland
Concept
Need assessment for socio-cultural sustainability
Conceptual sketch
Spatial Programm and connections
Analysis of visual references of the existing building
Drawings
Visualizations
Details
Operational and spatial organization
The bistro has two entrances. The guest entrance opens to a spacious dining room with a clear layout, making it easy to navigate the counter, lounge, and seating options. The second entrance, for deliveries and staff, connects directly to the Back of House, leading to storage areas, the kitchen, and technical rooms, with plates passed to service staff via a hatch and automated doors.
Demolition
The existing structures are to be largely retained, with only partial renovations necessary. After analyzing the existing building structure, the windows must be replaced with more efficient ones. In addition, the window parapets will be cut off at floor level in order to strengthen the connection between the interior and exterior.
The new structure will be clearly separated from the existing building and structurally secured. The construction is prefabricated in timber and can be dismantled to minimize the ecological footprint.
Lightning
The lighting highlights different zones and emphasizes the counter for easy guest orientation. Light floods the wall behind the counter and the plinth to distinguish the counter from the rear wall. To prevent shadows under the shelves, additional lights are mounted beneath them. The lounge is softly lit by wall lights, with optional table lamps. The guest area has no individual lighting to maintain seating flexibility, so pendant lights provide even illumination and enhance the spaciousness of the hall by also lighting the ceiling.
Acoustics
The seating area is divided into two zones: guest room and lounge. The lounge, designed as a retreat, features a lower reverberation time of 0.5 seconds, achieved with textile-upholstered furniture, carpets, and sound-absorbing wall lights. The lower ceiling enhances the cozy atmosphere. In contrast, the guest room encourages social interaction with a longer reverberation time. Acoustic elements on the ceiling and rear wall, with a white plastered finish, improve the reverberation time while preserving the room’s original appearance and preventing echoes.
Building services
As before, the ventilation is routed to the ceiling on both sides of the dining area and ventilates the dining area from above. There is a separate exhaust air system for the WCs and a separate system with supply and exhaust air for the kitchen. The technical center is located in the basement. The associated riser zone leads from the cellar through the technical room and the cube to the existing ceiling. Heating is provided by radiators mounted on the external façade between the windows. In order to avoid a drop in cold air at the windows, these must have a very good U-value.
Materials the dining room and patio
1 Floor/ wall/ ceiling: Existing
Cube materials
2 Exterior wall: 3-ply sealed spruce panel
3 Interior wall: 3-ply green varnished panel
4 Floor/ ceiling: 3-ply green varnished panel
5 Counter top: Terrazzo
6 Counter: corrugated sheet, green anodized
7 Counter splash guard: Frosted glass
Furniture dinning room
VÇ€ Chair: Icon von Hannes Wettstein
Vǀǀ Chair: Klio von Hannes Wettstein
Vǀǀǀ Bar stool: Honett von Blocher Partners
Ç€X Table: Column Table von De Vorm
X Table: MG Table von De Vorm
XÇ€ High table: mih massiv von Beat Waeber
Xǀǀ Pendant light: BRASSY-BIS von Lucide
Furniture lounge
Ç€ Couch: BuzziNordic von Stäffan Thomasen
ǀǀ Wall light: BuzziPebl von BuzziSpace Studio
Furniture counter
ǀǀǀ Pendant light: Split Drum from De Vorm
Furniture patio
Ç€V Chair: LUXEMBOURG von Frédéric Sofia
V Table: Metalltisch Basic von Schaffner AG