Branch "Lausanne-Haute-Broye-Jorat" and headquarter French-speaking Switzerland

water, earth and woods: the “3 regions“

Situation

Centrally sited in an outstandingly strategic position in one of Lausanne’s presently most lively quarters with businesses and banks, leisure and event opportunities is the new urban complex “Les Mercier“ with the Raiffeisenbank building. Easily visible and accessible, this is occupied by the West Switzerland office of the Raiffeisenbank Schweiz also the “Lausanne- Haute-Broye-Jorat” branches, with rooms and offices distributed over 4 floors totalling 3 800 m2. The Raiffeisenbank building is particularly striking from a city architectural aspect in this quarter known as “Le Flon” which has been totally redesigned and provided with new access roads.

Programme

For some 15 years the Raiffeisenbank has distinguished itself by promoting first class architecture which avoids any unification or standardization in the construction of their buildings and bank premises. Each branch is a prototype adapted to the requirements of the staff and cooperative enterprises. The work was carried out by local partners (architects, tradesmen and suppliers).

At the end of June 2006 Burckhardt+ Partner won Raffeisen’s interior design tender competition with the theme “The 3 Regions“ for the new “Lausanne-Haute-Broye-Jorat“ bank branches and the offices of their West Switzerland head office.

Experience spaces

Envisaged was a building subdivided into three vertical connecting elements. Created from these were spaces inspired by the three themes “Water, Earth and Forest“. Each vertical connection is displaced to enliven the building section.

The Lausanne region with the lake and the valley of the “Flon“ – the subterranean river which flows under the building – is  the water region. This theme is symbolized in the “Water” space by a subtle play composed by the architects of transparency, opacity and light. The connection of the bank entrance on the ground floor to counters, reception and the offices of the customer advisers gives the impression of a flow.

The Haute-Broye, forming part of the region known as Switzerland’s granary was interpreted as the “Earth space. For the internal training rooms of the bank, materials were used to remind us of cornfields.

The third theme is devoted to the heavily forested Jorat region. Through its materials and play of light, the “Forest“ space recalls this region, engendering the feeling of a protected, intimate place. This area is occupied mainly by the management, market development and risk management.

This building project gives evidence of the innovatory spirit and boldness of the Raiffeisenbank. The new bank branch and the West Switzerland head office were inaugurated in the middle of October 2008.