Office and Residential Building
in Ascona, Switzerland

Contract: 2007
Construction period: 2008 - 2010
Design: Eckhard Gerber
Project director/Project manager: Jens Haake, Andrzej Bleszynski
Project team: Andrea Colosio, Georg Kolendowicz, Jan Kallert, Stefan Lemke, Nele Vogelsang, Sakine Sahinbas et al.
Client: E. und M. Dreier  
Gross area: 5.938 m²
Volume: 23.551 m³

The new residential and commercial building is being developed at a sophisticated, urban location directly within Ascona’s historic centre. As an elongated cube, the project attaches to the pre-existing structure, continuing its form as part of the urban development. Its clear, skeletal structure stands in contrast to the surrounding area, while the heavily glassed façade makes it seem as though the building were dissolving into it.  

The public colonnade along the road rises to the street corner as a welcoming gesture, reaching a height of up to three storeys. Contrasting with the surrounding area is a sunken forecourt containing the UBS Bank entrance, which – as the building’s main tenant – occupies a large part of the ground and first floor areas. The ground floor also houses a piano bar and two stores, creating a pleasant mix of uses that adds value and contributes to the revitalisation of the surrounding area.