community hall by LOCALARCHITECTURE responds to switzerland's undulating topography

lausanne-based firm LOCALARCHITECTURE has completed a community hall in switzerland, which has been conceived as a multipurpose piece of public infrastructure. located in the small municipality of le vaud, the building is designed to serve and bring together the entire village community, through sports activities, shows, and events. the venue also intends to supplement existing facilities for an adjacent school, while opening up new possibilities for the general public.

all images by matthieu gafsou

LOCALARCHITECTURE aligned the building with its terrain, while its jagged roofline mimics the ridges of the nearby jura mountains. this aspect of the design makes the size of the structure deliberately ambiguous, reducing its apparent mass. the scale of the building ensures that schoolchildren feel comfortable using the facilities. meanwhile, a large chimney structure — perhaps more familiar to a farm or cottage — protrudes from the roof.

the building’s north and south façades are fully transparent

glazed triangular windows are set within larger wooden triangles, which filter daylight. by night, the openings subtly reveal the building’s interior, while creating an intriguing effect reminiscent of a native american tipi. by contrast, the north and south façades are fully transparent — flooding the hall with natural light. the entrance is protected by a large overhang, which shields the reception forecourt from adverse weather conditions. a similar overhang to the south ensures effective solar protection.

the venue can host a variety of sports activities, shows, and events

while the external form is designed to both blend with its built environment and serve as a distinctive landmark, the interior conforms to the restrictive, standardized specifications of regulations covering sports facilities. a free-standing structure in the reception area hosts the building’s communication and information functions as well as a bar. the main hall is entirely unobstructed, ensuring that it is capable of hosting a wide variety of events.

a large chimney structure — perhaps more familiar to a farm or cottage — stands out on the roof

taking inspiration from its surroundings, the community hall has been built with timber from local forests and standard metal sheeting typically used by farms in the area. sandblasted concrete, the material used for the adjacent school, has also been used. interestingly, one month before the venue’s scheduled opening date in 2016 the building was destroyed by fire. the architects say that the reconstruction process provided an opportunity to refine the design. the fire, and the building’s rebirth, are the subject of a forthcoming book and photographic project.

overhangs ensure effective solar protection

a free-standing structure hosts the building’s communication and information functions

the openings subtly reveal the building’s interior

glazed triangular windows are set within larger wooden triangles

the main hall is entirely unobstructed, ensuring that it is capable of hosting a wide variety of events

the timber-clad space can be used to supplement existing facilities for an adjacent school

le vaud’s new community hall has been built with timber from local forests

the jagged roofline mimics the region’s undulating topography

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project info:

project architects: LOCALARCHITECTURE, lausanne
giulia altarelli, 
elsa jejcic
, laurent saurer
, manuel bieler, 
antoine robert-grandpierre

wood engineer: ratio bois sàrl, ècublens
civil engineer: 2M ingéniérie civile SA, yverdon-les-bains
CVS engineer: weinmann-energies SA, èchallens
lighting: etienne gillabert, paris aebischer & bovigny, lausanne
geometric engineer: bovard & nickl SA, nyon
photography: matthieu gafsou

location: grand’rue 4, CH-1261 le vaud, suisse
client: commune de le vaud
conception and realization: 2014-2018
built area (footprint): 1,209 sqm
volume: 9,207 m3
awards: distinction romande d’architecture 2018, mention at prix lignum – western switzerland 2018