SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook

For the first time, Switzerland has its own architecture yearbook. Properly Swiss – in English and three national languages.

At last, the high quality of Swiss architecture and building culture will be tangibly showing its face on the international stage as well. In all its diversity. Be it urban or rural. Be it architecture from Ticino, Geneva, Basel, Aargau or Graubünden. From the large-scale pioneering project to the little innovation laboratory.

SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook has been published every two years since 2023. Curated by the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum and the magazine werk, bauen+wohnen.

An accompanying traveling exhibition presents the contents of the book for discussion in Switzerland and abroad and fuels the debate on Switzerland's building culture.

What are the most urgent questions that Swiss architecture is addressing? Which projects from all over Switzerland provide the most convincing answers?

Divided up into six themes, these good projects selected from among many beautiful ones are presented in the Swiss Architecture Yearbook 2025/26:

How to achieve optimum quality in the internal development of settlements?
What role do green outdoor spaces play in the development of built-up areas?
What are the responsibilities of commissioners and clients in ensuring that good projects are made?
How can we best preserve and transform our built environment while retaining memories?
Which innovative solutions in the areas of structural design and building construction characterize architecture today?
In addition to architecture projects which initiatives advance the culture of building in Switzerland?

SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook is published once every two years, thus reflecting the current discourse each time.

Idea: Why a yearbook?

Europe has the EU Mies Award – the most important exchange platform for European architecture from Poland to Portugal. Switzerland, which is not an EU member, has so far been excluded from it. Every year, many regions and nations proudly display the fruits of their architectural labours.

Switzerland has a plethora of high-quality architectural magazines, but these are published in French, German and Italian – not in a language that is read worldwide. Thus, despite its outstanding calibre, its widespread competition culture, the relatively high standing of its designing architects, and its many innovative clients, Swiss architecture remains strangely unnoticed.

There is no regular exchange platform or vehicle for nationwide debates. The regional architecture scenes, notwithstanding the interest they attract, remain largely isolated. This brings diversity and difference – but also a lack of knowledge about what is happening next door and what could be learnt from each other.

SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook – the book, the exhibition and the many accompanying events promote dialogue throughout Switzerland and increase the visibility of architectural work, across linguistic and national boundaries.

SAY – the publication

SAY 2025/26 — the yearbook is available from the publisher Park Books

Issued by: S AM Swiss Architecture Museum (Andreas Ruby) and werk, bauen + wohnen (Roland Züger) on behalf of Stiftung Architektur Schweiz SAS
Publisher: Park Books
Editors: Fabian Ruppanner, Korinna Zinovia Weber
Design: Claudiabasel
All contributions will appear in English.
Original contributions in Italian, French or German
280 pages, cardboard-bound
Numerous illustrations
ISBN 978-3-03860-456-3
Price: 49 CHF / 48 EUR

Authors and book topics
Building Where Something Already Exists
Bauen, wo schon etwas steht
Stefan Kurath

Thinking Architecture from the Standpoint of Open Space
Architektur vom Freiraum her denken
Damaris Baumann

From Project to Process, from Context to Trajectory
Du projet au processus, du contexte à la trajectoire
Naïri Arzoumanian

The Transmission of Memories
Erinnerungen weitertragen
Isabel Haupt

Knowing How to Build Architecture
Saper costruire l’architettura
Giovanni Conca, Nicola Navone

Self-Criticism and Activism
Selbstkritik und Aktivismus
Fabian Ruppanner, Roland Züger

SAY 23 is also still available at Park Books

Issued by the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum (Andreas Ruby) and werk, bauen + wohnen (Daniel Kurz) on behalf of Stiftung Architektur Schweiz SAS (Swiss Architecture Foundation)
Editors: Daniel Kurz, Jasmin Kunst, Andreas Ruby
Design: Claudiabasel
Multilingual edition (German, French, Italian, English)
304 pages, card-bound
Numerous pictures
ISBN: 978-3-03860-339-9
Price: 49 CHF / 48 EUR

SAY – the exhibition

SAY 2025/26 — the exhibition in S AM Swiss Architecture Museum Basel

The exhibition runs from September 27, 2025 to November 9, 2025
Book launch with panel discussion: Regula Lüscher, Corinna Menn, Roland Züger, and Andreas Ruby at 5:30 pm
Public opening September 26, 2025 at 7 pm
Curators: Andreas Ruby and Yuma Shinohara

Upcoming traveling exhibition venues and discourse events

November 29, 2025 – January 31, 2026: i2a Istituto Internazionale di Architettura, Lugano
February 24 – March 21, 2026: Architekturforum, Bern
April 1 – until early May 2026: Museum of the Canton of Glarus in the Freuler Palace, Glarus
November – December 2026: Forum d’architecture, Lausanne

Current program and discourse events

The yearbook and eponymous exhibition can be viewed in S AM Swiss Architecture Museum from September 26 to November 9, 2025. The show augments the documentation of the selected projects in the book by offering an insight into the selection process. The publication and exhibition will be accompanied by a program of discussion events, making the project into a platform for public debate on regional and supra-regional themes. The exhibition will travel in 2026 to selected regions of Switzerland, in this way continuing the discourse in all parts of the country and abroad. The Switzerland-wide SAY program is currently being developed.

Map of the SAY 2025/26 projects

With 158 nominations (white), 30 selected projects (red), and four special mentions (black), SAY 2025/26 covers almost all regions of the country: a reflection of the Swiss Baukultur.

The 44 nominators from across Switzerland invited by the Foundation Board were asked to select at least two of their five project proposals from within their own region. The projects had to be completed between June 1, 2022, and August 31, 2024. Projects by firms based in Switzerland were eligible, including those built abroad. Conversely, projects by foreign architectural firms in Switzerland were also eligible for nomination.

The SAY 2025/26 selection committees

International selection committee

Regula Lüscher, Winterthur, President
Jean-Paul Jaccaud, Geneva
Corinna Menn, Chur/Zurich
Sofie de Caigny, Antwerp
Mia Hägg, Locarno
Andreas Ruby, Artistic Director SAY 23 and SAY 2025/26, Director S AM Swiss Architecture Museum, Basel
Roland Züger, Artistic Director SAY 2025/26, Editor-in-Chief werk, bauen+wohnen; Zurich

Nominators SAY 2025/26

At the invitation of the board of trustees, 44 nominators from all over Switzerland nominated for 2025/26.

Timothy Allen, Buchs/Zürich
Cédric Bachelard, Basel
Alexandre Aviolat, Fribourg
Margrit Baumann, Altdorf
Ramun Capaul, Ilanz
Isabel Concheiro Guisan, Lausanne
Esther Deubelbeiss, Luzern
François Esquivié, Fribourg/Zürich
Deborah Fehlmann, Zürich
Lukas Frei, Deitingen
Marc Frochaux, Écublens
Daniel Fuchs, Zürich
Catherine Gay, Monthey
Samuel Gross, Genf
Lukas Gruntz, Basel
Harry Gugger, Basel
Mark Inderbitzin, Zürich
Joni Kaçani, Baden
Eva Keller, Herisau
Thomas Keller, St. Gallen
Martin Klopfenstein, Schwarzenburg
Dominique Knüsel, Schwyz/Zürich
Gerold Kunz, Ebikon
Beat Loosli, Rapperswil
Christiana Lopes, Chiasso
Bruno Marchand, Lausanne
Giotto Messi, Basel
Nicola Navone, Balerna
Martino Pedrozzi, Mendrisio
Shadi Rahbaran, Basel
Tanja Reimer, Zürich
Armando Ruinelli, Soglio
Dominique Salathé, Basel
Christoph Schläppi, Bern
Raphael Schmid, Zürich
Ludmila Seifert, Chur
Carolina Slawecka, Basel
Florian Spaelty, Netstal
Ivo Thalmann, Biel
Sabine von Fischer, Zürich
Christian Wäckerlin, Schaffhausen
Rita Wagner, Sion
Ueli Wepfer, Neuwilen
Felix Wettstein, Lugano

Follow SAY on Instagram: Discover the nominated projects!

The 36 selected projects SAY 2023/24

Ampliamento del centro scolastico / School Extension Viganello
Architettura / Architecture: Inches Geleta Architetti, Locarno

Avala House Belgrad / Avala House Belgrade, Belgrad, Serbien
Architektur / Architecture: TEN, Zürich/Belgrad

Synagoge Babyn Yar, Kiew / Babyn Yar Synagogue, Kyiv, Kiew, Ukraine
Architektur / Architecture: Manuel Herz Architects, Basel

Burggarta Valendas / Burggarta Valendas
Architektur / Architecture: Gion A. Caminada, Vrin

Bürohaus Küng Holzbau / Küng Holzbau Headquarters, Alpnach, Obwalden
Architektur / Architecture: Seiler Linhart Architekten, Sarnen/Luzern

Chamanna Cluozza / Chamanna Cluozza, Zernez, Graubünden
Architektur / Architecture: Capaul & Blumenthal architects, Ilanz/Glion

Gletschergarten Luzern / Gletschergarten Lucerne
Architektur / Architect: Miller & Maranta Architekten, Basel

FrauMünsterhof 2021 / FrauMünsterhof 2021, Zürich
Architektur / Architecture: Verein créatrices.ch und Professor Elli Mosayebi, ETH Zürich

Erneuerung Kongresshaus und Tonhalle / Kongresshaus Convention Hall and Tonhalle, Zürich
Architektur / Architecture: ARGE Boesch Diener – Elisabeth & Martin Boesch Architekten, Zürich / Diener & Diener Architekten, Basel

Haus aus Hanf / The Hemp House, Zagublica, Serbien
Architektur / Architecture: Bach Mühle Fuchs und Ljubica Arsić, Zürich

Zwei Heisse Brunnen / Two Hot Springs, Ennetbaden, Aargau
Architektur / Architecture: Verein Bagni Popolari, Baden; baubüro in situ, Zürich (Ausführung)

Ensemble de logements Pasodoble / Pasodoble Residential Ensemble, Lancy, Genève
Architecture / Architecture: NOMOS architects, Genève/Madrid/Lisbonne

Rénovation de la cité du Lignon / Renovation of the Lignon Complex, Vernier, Genève
Architecture / Architecture: Jaccaud + Associés, Genève

Casa Giuseppina e Casetta / Casa Giuseppina and Casetta, Mosogno, Ticino
Architettura / Architecture: squadra (Lian Liana Stähelin, Luca Bazelli) in collaborazione con Isabel Lehn-Blazejczak, Florian Stieger

Umbau Silo Erlenmatt / Transformation Erlenmatt Silo, Basel
Architektur / Architecture: Harry Gugger Studio, Basel

Stadtcasino Basel / Stadtcasino Basel
Architektur / Architecture: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel

Kinderspital Tambacounda / Pediatric Hospital Tambacounda, Tambacounda, Senegal
Architektur / Architecture: Manuel Herz Architects, Basel

Extension d’un immeuble d’habitation / Extension of an Apartment Building, Fribourg
Architecture / Architecture: Aviolat Chaperon Escobar architectes, Fribourg

Gallerie di protezione Alp Grüm / Rock Sheds Alp Grüm, Poschiavo, Grigioni
Ingegneria strutturale / Structural engineering: Conzett Bronzini Partner, Coira

Surélevation Rue de Lausanne / Upward Extention on the Rue de Lausanne, Genève
Architecture / Architecture: Lacroix Chessex, Genève

Belle Terre – pièces urbaines A1 et B / Belle Terre – Plots A1 and B, Thônex, Genève
Architecture / Architecture: Atelier Bonnet, Genève (y compris projet urbain); LRS Lin.Robbe.Seiler, Genève; Jaccaud + Associés, Genéve; BCMA Bassi Carella Marello Architectes, Genève

Ecole primaire de Riaz / Riaz Elementary School, Riaz, Fribourg
Architecture / Architecture: FAZ architectes, Genève

Atelier Hawkesbury / Atelier Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australie
Architecture / Architecture: Leopold Banchini Architects, Genève

Uniqlo Flagship-Store, Tokio / Uniqlo Flagship Store, Tokyo, Tokio, Japan
Architektur / Architecture: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel

Genossenschaftshaus Warmbächli / Warmbächli Cooperative House, Bern
Architektur / Architecture: BHSF Architekten, Zürich

Genossenschaftshaus Abakus / Abakus Cooperative House, Basel
Architektur / Architecture: Stereo Architektur, Basel/Zürich

Zentrum Brütten – Alterswohnen / Brütten Town Center – Senior Living, Brütten, Zürich
Architektur / Architecture: Roider Giovanoli Architekten, Zürich

Negrellisteg Zürich / Negrelli Footbridge Zurich, Zürich
Architektur / Architecture: 10:8 Architekten, Zürich; Conzett Bronzini Partner, Chur; Diggelmann + Partner, Bern

Ofenturm Ziegelei-Museum / Kiln Tower, Ziegelei-Museum, Cham, Zug
Architektur / Architecture: Boltshauser Architekten, Zürich, mit Studierenden der ETH Zürich und TU München

K118 Kopfbau Halle 118 / K118 Head-End Building Hall 118, Winterthur
Architektur / Architecture: Baubüro in situ, Basel/Zürich

Schulhaus Azmoos / Elementary School Azmoos, Azmoos, St. Gallen
Architektur / Architecture: Felgendreher Olfs Köchling Architekten, Berlin

Zollhaus Zürich / Zollhaus Zurich, Zürich
Architektur / Architecture: Enzmann Fischer Partner, Zürich

Studierendenwohnhaus Rosengarten / Rosengarten Student Housing, Zürich
Architektur / Architecture: Atelier Scheidegger Keller, Zürich

Landskronhof / Landskronhof, Basel
Architektur / Architecture: HHF Architekten, Basel

Hofbebauung Riehenring / Riehenring Courtyard Development, Basel
Architektur / Architecture: Jessenvollenweider, Basel

Genossenschaftssiedlung Vogelsang / Vogelsang Cooperative Complex, Winterthur
Architektur / Architecture: Knapkiewicz & Fickert Architekten, Zürich

Review of SAY 2023/24 and election results

On the SAY 2023/24 touring exhibition, visitors were invited to vote for their favorite projects. These votes produced some astonishing results. In Glarus, for example, the children's hospital in Senegal was very popular among the public. As a result, its architect Manuel Herz from Basel was invited to give a presentation in Glarus. This confirmed that SAY offers the opportunity to discuss Swiss building culture across language barriers and beyond valley communities

Past traveling exhibitions SAY23:

i2a Istituto Internazionale di Architettura, Lugano
Landesbibliothek Glarus, organised by Atelier Freienstein, Glarus
f’ar forum d’architectures, Lausanne
ZAZ Bellerive, Zürich
AIT-Architektur Salon Hamburg
L’Atelier, Fribourg in cooperation with HEIA and la Ville de Fribourg
University of Liechtenstein, LSA Liechtenstein School of Architecture, Vaduz
Mediathek Wallis, (Synergie with EDHEA et parole d'architecture, SION)
Swissnex in Japan, Osaka, Japan
Architekturforum Bern im Kornhausforum
Stadtgalerie Chur

The evaluation of the voting results shows which projects received the most votes from the public. A total of 2593 valid votes were cast at ten locations. The public would have selected only 21 (green) of the 36 selected projects for the yearbook - unlike the selection committee.

Projekte Übersicht

36 projects according to public voting

Project name	Architect / Company
Chamanna Cluozza	Capaul & Blumenthal
Tambacounda Pediatric and Maternity Hospital	Manuel Herz Architects
Erweiterung Gletschergarten	Miller & Maranta AG
Haus aus Hanf	Bach Mühle Fuchs Partner:Innen GmbH
Restauration Casa Giuseppina & Casetta	Lian Liana Stähelin
Ofenturm, Ziegeleimuseum	Boltshauser Architekten AG
Babyn Yar Synagogue	Manuel Herz Architekten
Bürohaus Küng	SeilerLinhart Architekten AG
Atelier Hawkesbury	NOMOS
Pasodoble	NOMOS
Rénovation de la Cité du Lignon	Jaccaud + Associés
AVALA House	TEN Studio
Heisse Brunnen Baden & Ennetbaden	Verein Bagni Popolari Baden & baubüro in situ ag
Transformation au chemin Guillaume-Ritter	Aviolat Chaperon Escobar Architectes
Uniqlo	Herzog & de Meuron
Negrelli-Steg	10:8 Architekten
Landskronhof	HHF Architekten
Wohnhaus Abakus	Stereo Architektur
K118 - Kopfbau Halle 118	Baubüro Insitu
Silo Hostel	Harry Gugger Studio
Studierendenwohnhaus Rosengarten	Atelier Scheidegger Keller
Cà del Tero, Casa Cortile	Bartke Pedrazzini Architetti
Event-Schiff "Gannet"	Verein Shift Mode, Holzpark Klybeck
Grotto della Roccia, ristrutturazione	Enrico Sassi architetto
Maison de l'île aux oiseaux	Localarchitecture
Haus Missionsstrasse	Buchner Bründler
Stallscheune Riederalp	Atelier Summermatter Ritz
Aussichtsturm Hardwald	Luna Productions
Filter House	Comte Meuwly
Hallenbad Appenzell	Peter Moor Architekten ETH SIA GmbH
Haus im Hof	Piertzovanis Toews / GFA Gruppe für Architektur
Museum Küppersmühle, Erweiterung	Herzog & de Meuron
Schulhaus Wallrüti	Schneider Studer Primas
Novartis Pavillon Wonders of Medicine	AMDL CIRCLE & Michele de Lucchi, Blaser Architekten
Parking C	Christian Kerez Architekt

Who is behind SAY?

Stiftung Architektur Schweiz SAS

In 2022, the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum and the Federation of Swiss Architects (FSA) jointly founded Stiftung Architektur Schweiz SAS, based in Basel. This foundation supports SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook.

The Stiftung Architektur Schweiz board of trustees

Marianne Burki, art and architectural historian, Burki & Li culture projects, Zurich. Board of Trustees S AM. Co-President of the SAS Foundation Board
Ludovica Molo, architetta FAS, studiowe architetti, Istituto i2a, Lugano. Member of the Board of Trustees S AM, Co-President of the Board of Trustees SAS
Stéphanie Bender, architecte FAS, 2b architectes, Lausanne. Board of Directors Verlag Werk AG
Luca Camponovo, architect BSA, Camponovo Baumgartner, Zurich. Member of the Central Board of the BSA Céline Guibat, architecte FAS, mijong architecture, Sion/Zurich. Board of Trustees S AM
Mike Guyer, Architect BSA, Gigon Guyer Partner Architects
Inès Lamunière, architecte FAS, dl-a designlab-architecture, Prof. EPFL, Genève
Dr. Melanie Müller, Lawyer, Herzog & de Meuron
Daniel Niggli, architect BSA, EM2N Architects, Zurich

SAY – the team

Andreas Ruby, Director S AM and Roland Züger, editor-in-chief werk, bauen+wohnen are the artistic directors of SAY. They are responsible for the content of the yearbook as well as the accompanying exhibitions and events. The SAY team includes Caspar Schärer, Katrin Zbinden and Fabienne Schneider.