Conversion PROGR-courtyard
WIthin the cleanly UNESCO-heritage perimeter of the historical center of Bern, the cultural institution PROGR sets a soothing contrast.
A former school building as playground for the contemporary Bernese cultural scene. In front of it the diversity of cultural activities in the former school-courtyard form the actual address of the PROGR in the cityscape.
These diverse activities should be made more visible and accessible for passersby on the the passing Speichergasse.
How much does it take? Appropriation needs free space, not design.
Against the background of the three representative façades, the courtyard, like the stage design of a Scena Comica, forms the projection surface for the cultural diversity of life within the PROGR. We imagined a wide open courtyard of possibilities.
The most important things already exist: spaces, uses, accesses, beautiful old green.
The small interventions in and around the courtyard are subtle, simple and robust: demolition of the wall formerly separating the space; some few new and serving additions. The courtyard remains an open space for various activities of appropriation. We just cleaned up a little.
New pavillions: The rest of the existing wall is used as a supporting wall for the new pavilions. The footprints of the new structures are also optimized to a minimum. The Eternit-coating and the galvanized steel construction ensure a neutral, adequately useful and robust materiality.
New stairs and entrances: The new stairs are presented as subtle and pragmatically formulated additive elements in front of the heritage-listed façade. The simple pre-cast concrete elements overhang the minimal galvanized steel substructure and appear to be floating. Thus the new staircases are significantly reduced in their perceptible presence.
The existing sandstone-balustrades were cut out along the joints, the new window doors were inserted into the existing structure in a manner analogous to the existing window proportions in dimensions and detailing.
