The Swiss House for Advanced Research and Education
Cambridge, Mass.
Huang & Waldvogel

A digital community supports Swiss culture

© Elton Pope-Lance

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

The Swiss Government asked the architect to create a design that supports its vision of a new, knowledge-based diplomacy. A 3,200 square-foot, wired loft space resulted, which features various "teleports," i.e., advanced communication interfaces including plasma screens, ambient sound systems, webcams, wireless microphones, and large displays, which are embedded into the built environment. These teleports disappear in the hard floor, transparent walls, monolithic ceiling, and nomadic furniture, inventing the loft as a giant interface.

Crisp and cool glass walls run from floor to ceiling and define the spaces. The glass walls are positioned at a slightly off-orthogonal angle to give the loft space a feeling of continuous flow. Richly textured wooden planks and large amounts of natural light counteract the coldness of the glass and technology, fostering an energetic and creative working atmosphere.

The convergent point in Swiss House is the "kinetic arena," an introverted seating area carved into the maple floor. Activities happening in the sunken arena are transmitted in real-time cameras mounted on the ceiling. The "media spaces" are enclosed by partially frosted glass: they remain visually open to the arena but are acoustically separated, providing intimacy for breakout sessions and private conversations. The rear-projected "digital walls" expand the physical space, and set the stage for remote lectures, digital exhibitions, and cocktail parties with virtual audiences in distant yet seamlessly connected places.

Formal name of Project:
The Swiss House for Advanced Research and Education

Location:
Cambridge, Mass.

Gross square footage:
3,400 sq. ft.

Owner:
Government of Switzerland
Consul Xavier Comtesse

Architect:
Huang & Waldvogel (now Convergeo)
289 Nashoba Road, Concord, MA 01742
Phone: 617-320-3618
Fax: 978-371-3910
Email: info@convergeo.com
www.convergeo.com