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1 e 3. Extensão do MuseuNacionalSuíço[SwissNationalMuseumExtension]. Concurso[Competition] 2002, 1° prêmio[1stprize]. Elaboração do projeto [Projectplanning]2002-2012.Realizaçãoda construção , fase I [Realizationof reconstruction, phase/) 2005-2008. Realização da reconstrução e extensãoaprox. [Realizationof reconstruction and extensionapp.J2008-2012 . Zurique[Zurich],Suíça[Switzerland] . Fotografia [Photography) © Christ& Cantenbein. 2. Pavilhão para o Parquede ArquiteturaJinhua[Pavilion for theJinhuaArchitecturePark] . Elaboração do projeto[Projectplanning]2004.Execução [Realization] 2005. China.Fotografia [Photography] © lwan Baan.
" PR I M I TI V E AR C H I TE CT U R E" Two projects by Christ & Gantenbein Two of our projectsare displayedat the São Paulo Biennial:the Jinhua pavilionin China and the extension of the Swiss National Museum in Zurich. These projectsare verydistinctfrom each other, both in theirfunction and size. TheJinhua project is a kind of architecturalsculpture,like a folly - a pavilion without a defined function. The object sufficesin itself lt can be either a focal point or a shelter in a public garden. Around it everythingis new and nothing is old, since its directsurroundingshave been completed over the past few years. The tree like sculptureconfrontsthis agelessenvironment as a nearlyprehistoricarchitecture,resemblinga fossil of an extinct tree species. The projectplays with the issue of artificialnature, an important component of Chineselandscapeand garden architecture.The pavilion is made out of concreteblocks,cast and assembled on site. The extension of the Swiss National Museum is also architecture out of raw concrete. The building is in principie a constructed path, leadingfrom the existing building to the park and then back, composing a sequence of spaces. lts architecture simply envelopes these spaces. lt is ali at once the shell, the load bearing structure, the exhibition background and the faca de. This explains the high standards set for this project, which should fulfi/1 some highly complex architectural requirements while using the simplest of procedures. Obviously, architecture is in continuous dialogue with the prevailing cultural context. Just like the pavilion in Jinhua, which deals with the sterile surroundings of Chinese suburbia, the new museum building wi/1persistas such side by side with the dominant historical architecture of the existing National Museum. The old museum building resembles a castle. To some extent, its extension reinterprets some features of a castle, of a modem fortification or of a monumental industrial construction forming a big monolithic volume with veryfew openings. lts expression is both
physical and strong, shaping raw interior spaces and playing with a dramatic light. Even being so differentfrom each other, both objects bear some considerablesimilarities.Firstly,both are public buildings molding the public space. The space created by these objects should be spectacular and demonstrative, just like the objects themselves. We are not seeking the elegant "Minimal, rather, we want the expressiveform. The basic structure is simpie, allowing the form to stayfree. This leads at its best to a surprisingaesthetic. The architecture we create occurs from the mere act of making, which means that it is not thought out or predictable. By building models, we allow architectureto acquire a premature physicalpresence to which we are sensitive. The stronger the presence, the more successfulit is. These two exhibited objects achieve this enhanced presence. They are almost too archaic,they are not elegant, but are instead strong and uncompromising. Our interest is thus aroused by this simple, direct and authentic architecture - actually, primitive architecture. 11
Emanuel Christ and Christoph Gantenbein, September
2007
Christ & Gantenbein Architects Fundado em [foundedin]1998, Basiléia [Base/],Suíça [Switzerland] por [by] Emanuel Christ, Basiléia [Base/], 1970 and Christoph Gantenbein , St. Gallen , Suíça [Switzerland], 1971 Pavilhão para o [pavilionforthe]Jinhua Architecture Park, 2004-2005, China; Anexo [SwissNational Museum extension],2002 (construção [construction] : 2008-2012), Zurique, Suíça [Switzerland] 45