Helvetia Facade

A modular system of scalloped glass tiles that exposes layers of the facade for Helvetia Campus in Basel by Herzog & de Meuron, studied in 2017

Helvetia Facade expands the superficial skin of the building by revealing depth, challenging a singular reading through undefinable edges. Studied through detail drawings and mock ups, tiles of varying translucency and reflectivity pull apart the facade to expose structural columns, slabs and window frames. At two scales, each tile has a scalloped surface of equal radius that is mirrored to generate three unique glass units. They transition between apertures and pivot corners, forming a modular grid that references an existing building on campus. Glass tiles absorb varying daylight conditions, transforming the building from a shimmered surface to a transparent mass.

Image Credit: Abigail Chang

Contributors: Herzog & de Meuron Helvetia Campus team