Example 08

Panorama Gallery, Mt. Pilatus

Kulm, CH 2011

Architects:
Niklaus Graber & Christoph Steiger
Architekten, Lucerne
Project Manager:
Philipp Käslin
Construction Manager:
Jürg Gabathuler, Wollerau
Structural planning:
Dr. Schwartz Consulting AG, Zug
Aldo Vital

Almost merging into the crags of Mt. Pilatus,

the Panorama Gallery is an “architectural
mountain path” linking an existing cableway
station with two hotels. Instead of the familiar
“form follows function” design objective, the
“form follows mountain” here. Gentle transitions
between the artificial and natural landscape
are achieved with a polygonal, meandering
floor plan and slight modulations in the cross
section. The building almost matter-of-factly
joins existing structures at various levels and
creates a range of spatial effects, each with
its special character and view. The new, single-
storey 60 ≈ 20 metre building uses a pre-exist-
ing military building as its foundation. The roof
of the Gallery serves as a viewing platform
and a space for sunbathing. Spaciously laid
out cascading stairs link the terrace with the
Gallery and hotels.
The structure also reflects the idea of move-
ment. Variously splayed, v-shaped double sup-
ports made of steel box beams, with visible
joists zigzagging between them, form a spatial
grid that supports the ceiling and facade. The
concrete ceiling, with its u-shaped steel joists,
was poured in situ and functions as a compos-
ite structure, allowing spans up to 18 m to be
built, even though up to 9 metres of snow can
fall on the terrace. Projecting areas of the lower
ceiling slab are hung from tension rods on the
joists of the upper ceiling slab. Steel profiles
penetrate the interior insulation at just a few
points, minimising thermal bridges to a negli-
gible level.
The materiality of the building envelope, which
is made of precast concrete elements, refer-
ences the limestone of Mt. Pilatus. Formwork
matrices were used to give the surface a fine
vertical pattern, a sensual feel and an impres-
sion of depth. They also conceal the joints
between elements. The concrete parapets
were poured in situ onto the elements, which
helps distribute ceiling loads in a longitudinal
direction. Following the floor plan, the opaque
parapets and handrails rise and fall, creating
huge picture windows framing dramatic views.

Unauthenticated
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Download Date | 3/25/16 9:34 AM