EM2N wraps cinémathèque suisse in a shell of cor-ten steel in penthaz, switzerland

EM2N has completed the third and final phase of the cinémathèque suisse, switzerland‘s national film archive in the municipality of penthaz (see previous coverage here). the existing structure, which consisted of a utilitarian, linear accumulation of sheds, has been transformed through the expansion project into a composed form that brings old and new parts together. wrapped in a shell of cor-ten steel, the complex now comprises a combination of new volumes and remodeled existing ones of different lengths, arranged in a linear relationship to each other. all images © damian poffet unless stated otherwise

header image © roger frei

EM2N has concentrated the public areas of cinémathèque suisse in penthaz I, while the archive itself is on the far side of the road in penthaz II, which is conceived as a completely underground storage space that provides optimum protection for the culturally valuable artifacts. the project acquires a certain urban character, which gently contrasts the adjoining farmland and creates a clear identity for the institution. the building is characterized by a composed form consisting of parallel volumes in different lengths, with only the end situation marked by angled cuts.

a shell of rusting steel encases the entire complex and binds new and old parts together. the concept of layering, evident in the parallel volumes of the exterior, can also be found in the interior. three circulation systems above one another penetrate the parallel cross-walls vertically, allowing the linear organization to be directly experienced.

image © roger frei

project info:

name:  cinémathèque suisse

architect: EM2N

dates: competition 2007 (1st prize), planning 2008–2010, construction 2010–2013 (1st phase), 2013–2015 (2nd phase), 2017–2019 (3rd phase)

size: 13,110 m2

client: federal office for buildings and logistics FBL

location: penthaz, switzerland