Burckhardt and the Star Architects

The rise of a generation of star architects in the 1990s had a profound impact on the status of architecture in Switzerland. Firms like Herzog & de Meuron, Peter Zumthor, and Mario Botta put Swiss architecture on the global map. At the same time, many internationally renowned architects also left their mark by designing projects in Switzerland.

As one of Switzerland’s leading firms, Burckhardt spearheaded a series of groundbreaking projects in partnership with famous international architects. Not only did these collaborations expand Burckhardt’s own portfolio, they also positioned the firm as a vital link between the Swiss architectural community, clients, and the international world of architecture. 

In these predominantly large-scale construction projects, Burckhardt assumed a variety of roles. Equality in collaboration across all project phases was one model, another being to serve as the lead planner or local partner with the ability to reconcile Swiss building practices with the visionary designs of international firms. These partnerships gave rise to iconic structures in Switzerland that attracted attention far beyond the country’s borders.

Standout examples of this teamwork in the Basel region include the «Auf dem Wolf» locomotive depot (1995) and the Exhibition Center Basel for Messe Basel (2013), both with Herzog & de Meuron, as well as the Fondation Beyeler (1997) with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), as well as two projects on the Novartis Campus: the WSJ-355 laboratory building (2009) with David Chipperfield Architects and the WSJ-352 lab and research building (2009) with Tadao Ando Architect & Associates.

Beyond Basel, major projects like the Westside Shopping and Leisure Center (2008) in Bern-Brünnen with Studio Daniel Libeskind, the office building at Bellerivestrasse 36 (2024) in Zurich with C.F.  Møller Architects, or the experimental teaching and learning center «Square» on the University of St. Gallen campus (2022) with Sou Fujimoto Architects, have shaped both Switzerland’s architectural landscape and Burckhardt’s portfolio.

The projects with these star architects in the 1990s marked the start of an era in which exceptional architecture became increasingly recognized as a core element of Switzerland’s cultural identity. Meanwhile, Burckhardt’s high-quality contributions abroad earned the firm the prestigious label of «Swissness» with all its positive connotations.