HHF Architects

HHF Architects, together with the landscape architects from Westpol, have succeeded in winning an invited competition with their design for a 30-meter-high apartment tower and an adjoining public green space in the Biel community of Mett. With its distinctive shape – composed of three differently sized cubes piled up at different angles – and the adjoining green public space, the Jardin Métropole is destined to become the symbol of Mett and contribute to the area’s enhancement.

The geometry and alignment of the discrete volumes relate to the neighboring buildings. The freestanding building constitutes the beginning of the new park-like passage to Rue du Moulin. The design builds on the theme of the city garden. Each apartment has access to different green spaces: separate gardens with private planting beds, a shared roof terrace, and landscaped loggias are self-evident offerings for all the residents.

The photovoltaic modules that are integrated in the loft-like facade, which is dominated by horizontal ribbon windows, generate a large portion of the energy needed to serve the apartments and the service-sector commercial areas planned for the two bottom stories.

The tower building stands in the tradition of taller expressive buildings in Biel, like the well-known “La Rotonde” at the train station. Taking a cue from that building, the public ground-floor zone of the Jardin Métropole, with its bakery and café, has a circular plan. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2019.

Program:
Mixed-Use: Housing, Commercial, Office

Design and Construction:
2016 –

Competition:
1st Prize, 2016

Team:
HHF + Westpol

Team HHF:
HERLACH HARTMANN FROMMENWILER
with Laura Sattin and Eun A. Song, Nadja Uzelac, Monika Wozniak

Gross Floor Area:
2'675 m2

Building Volume:
20'470 m3

Client:
Vitali's Generation AG