Gerliswil Parish Center Refurbishment and Expansion by Lussi + Partner AG

A Contemporary Transformation Strengthening Community, Heritage, and Architecture

The Gerliswil Parish Center in Emmenbrücke has undergone a thoughtful refurbishment and expansion that strengthens both its architectural identity and its role as a vibrant community hub. Set within a picturesque hilltop church precinct defined by a distinctive neo-baroque church, the revitalized parish complex reconnects the site’s past with a renewed, forward-looking civic purpose. Lussi + Partner AG reimagines the 1970s brutalist center through a sensitive blend of preservation, spatial reorganization, and a striking new extension, positioning the building as an accessible, welcoming institution for the local community.

Design Vision: Connecting Past and Present

Embedded in the hillside, the original 1970s community center was designed with a subdued volumetric expression to respect the church above. Despite this restraint, it carried the expressive architectural language of its era. The refurbishment clarifies this architectural intent, strengthening the relationship between the parish center and the church through improved alignment, clearer circulation, and a new vertical and spatial coherence.

A key highlight of the transformation is the new multipurpose hall, placed above the existing base structure. Its sculptural copper roof—echoing the tones of the church’s roof—creates a distinctive silhouette while signaling the hall’s enhanced role as a public and community-serving space.

A Multifunctional Hub for Parish and Community Life

The renewed parish center now forms the social and administrative heart of the community. The building accommodates:

• Administrative offices
• Club and community rooms
• Classrooms for religious education
• A flexible multipurpose hall for gatherings, events, and celebrations

The hall, constructed in a warm wooden structural system, features interior surfaces clad in ash wood. This material palette creates an inviting, acoustically refined environment, ideal for group activities and public events. The use of copper cladding on the exterior clearly differentiates the new addition from the existing concrete mass, reinforcing a dialogue between old and new.

Refined Interiors: Light, Transparency, and Movement

The existing staircase remains the central organizing element, continuing as a clear vertical axis connecting all floors. Transparency within circulation spaces is greatly enhanced through new inter-floor openings, allowing visual connections and dynamic sightlines across the building.

Inside, the interplay of preserved brutalist elements and contemporary wooden finishes generates a layered, expressive interior ambiance. This combination delivers a warm but modern environment that celebrates the building’s heritage while creating a fresh architectural language for its expanded role.

Architecture that Serves Community and Heritage

The refurbishment balances architectural preservation, functional improvement, and material innovation. By integrating modern construction techniques, sustainable materials, and a bold yet contextually sensitive form, Lussi + Partner AG transforms the Gerliswil Parish Center into a civic landmark that strengthens both its urban presence and its daily relevance to the community of Emmenbrücke.

All photographs are works of Franz Rindlisbacher