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

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 was launched in September 2023 at the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum. It 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?
SAY Swiss Architecture Yearbook is more than just a selection of the best. It is a confrontation with the questions that many people are facing after an almost thirty-year construction boom:

• How do we find sustainable approaches to construction?
• How can architecture be made compatible with the challenge of climate change?
• How can top-quality urban density be achieved?
• How do we preserve and transform our building stock?
• What can be learnt from construction in Switzerland’s rural regions?
• What can architecture contribute to the protection and value of landscape?
• Where are Swiss architects building, worldwide?
• How does Switzerland’s architecture present itself from a European perspective?

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

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, from Flanders to the Netherlands and through to Germany, 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, in the shadows.

Even within Switzerland, 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 23 is 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
Price: 49 CHF / 48 EUR
ISBN: 978-3-03860-339-9

Switzerland-wide travelling exhibition

Exhibition at the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum, Basel
Duration: 9th of September – 5th of November 2023
Curators: Andreas Ruby and Yuma Shinohara
The exhibition will be presented in all regions of Switzerland during 2024 and 2025, taking the discourse to all parts of the country. The upcoming venues can be found here.

Discourse events

The Switzerland-wide SAY program is currently being developed. We will publish all events here on an ongoing basis.

Past traveling exhibitions:
03/12/ – 19/01/2024: i2a Istituto Internazionale di Architettura, Lugano
26/01/ – 29/02/2024 : Landesbibliothek Glarus, organised by Atelier Freienstein, Glarus
11/03/ – 02/04/2024 : f’ar forum d’architectures, Lausanne , Opening and Discussion: 14.3., 6.30 PM 
12/04/ – 02/06/2024 : ZAZ Bellerive, Zürich , Opening: 11/4/, 7 PM
17/07/ – 16/08/2024: AIT-Architektur Salon Hamburg, Opening: 16/07/, 7 PM
02/10/ – 22/10/2024 : L’Atelier, Fribourg in cooperation with HEIA and la Ville de Fribourg, Opening: 01/10/24, 6 PM,  Lecture: 15/10/24, 6 PM
31/10/ – 29/11/2024: University of Liechtenstein, LSA Liechtenstein School of Architecture, Vaduz 
06/12/ – 22/12/2024: Mediathek Wallis, (Synergie with EDHEA et parole d'architecture, SION)
25/1/2025 - 21/2/2025: Swissnex in Japan, Osaka, Japan, opening on 24.1.25
17/2/2024 – 15/03/2025: Architekturforum Bern im Kornhausforum
02/04/ – 13/04/2025: Stadtgalerie Chur 

Dates

SAY 25: publication and exhibition in September 2025

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
Inès Lamunière, architecte FAS, dl-a designlab-architecture, Prof. EPFL, Genève
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.

Stiftung Architektur Schweiz SAS
info@say.ch

S AM Swiss Architecture Museum
info@sam-basel.org

werk, bauen+wohnen
info@wbw.ch

Park Books
info@park-books.com

SAY gratefully acknowledges the generous support of:

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, Director S AM Swiss Architecture Museum, Basel
Roland Züger, Artistic Director SAY 23, Editor-in-Chief werk, bauen+wohnen; Zurich

Nominators SAY 25

At the invitation of the board of trustees, 44 nominators from all over Switzerland nominated for SAY 25.

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

Stiftung Architektur Schweiz SAS
c/o Caspar Schärer
Zweierstrasse 100
8003 Zürich