valerio olgiati: auditorium plantahof

‘auditorium plantahof’ by valerio olgiati, landquart, switzerland image © javier miguel verme all images courtesy of valerio olgiati

in landquart, switzerland, the ‘auditorium plantahof’ by swiss architect valerio olgiati creates a new square on the campus of the plantahof agricultural school. a tall concrete elevation with only a singular low-profile ribbon opening addresses the central piazza. an unexpected square column penetrates the solid facade and firmly plants itself into the earth. continuing to the inside, this structural element traverses through the volume to meet and support the opposing angled concrete wall which passes over the rows of seating to form the building’s triangular cross-section.

mirrored on the opposite side of the building, the horizontal windows generate an axis which frames outward views to the plaza and prättigau valley. their placement also produces a soft low-lighting, accentuating the cool atmosphere already generated by the dark grey materials. accommodating approximately 130 to 180 individuals at one time, the hall’s flexible interior may host seminars, lectures and events.

entry facade and approach image © javier miguel verme

side elevation image © javier miguel verme

auditorium seating image © javier miguel verme

view to the head of the auditorium image © javier miguel verme

roof structure image © javier miguel verme

site planimage © archive olgiati

floor plan / level 0 image © archive olgiati

section image © archive olgiati

project info:

object: auditorium location: landquart, switzerland competition: 1. prize, 2008 client: building control department of canton grison architect: valerio olgiati, architect collaborators: nathan ghiringhelli (project manager office olgiati), daisuke kokufuda   construction supervisor: georg nickisch, franz bärtsch, arge nickisch/bärtsch, chur structural engineer: patrick gartmann, conzett bronzini gartmann ag, chur materials: anthracite in-situ concrete, steel, chrome-nickel-steel begin of planning: november 2008 begin of construction: october 2009 end of construction: october 2010 volume: 2’240 m3 (sia 416) area: 270 m2 investment costs (bkp 1-9): 2.75 mio. CHF m3-price (bkp 2): 898 CHF / m3