Vocational School for Building Trades by Gunz & Künzle Architekt*innen in Zürich, Switzerland

Located in the heart of Zürich, Switzerland, the Vocational School for Building Trades designed by Gunz & Künzle Architekt*innen redefines modern educational architecture for construction disciplines. Completed in 2025, this 10,200 m² facility combines functionality, sustainability, and community engagement, creating an innovative learning environment for students while contributing to the urban fabric of the neighborhood.

Design Concept and Urban Integration

The school is strategically positioned along a central Zürich street, forming a slender architectural footprint that enhances urban connectivity. By following the street line, the building naturally creates a spacious courtyard, which serves as a public extension of the school’s first-floor functions. This piano nobile, suspended above the gymnasiums, introduces a flexible spatial landscape where classrooms, workshops, and communal areas coexist seamlessly.

The design emphasizes efficient classroom organization through a grid layout on upper floors, while the suspended piano nobile allows for an adaptable open space ideal for exhibitions, events, or practical construction workshops. The interplay between solid structural elements and flexible interiors fosters a dynamic educational experience.

Materiality and Sustainability

Robust concrete construction forms the backbone of the building, providing a durable framework that supports multifunctional uses. The architects incorporated sustainable strategies with materials and design choices that allow for future adaptation, making the building both resilient and resource-efficient.

Interior spaces are enhanced with multifunctional furniture and curtain partitions, enabling quick spatial reconfiguration for diverse activities. Natural light, thoughtful lighting design, and high-quality finishes such as wood, textile, and acoustic panels create an inviting and functional learning environment.

Flexible Architecture for Learning and Community

The Vocational School for Building Trades transcends conventional school design by emphasizing process over image. Its architecture encourages student interaction, hands-on learning, and community engagement, while the structural and spatial framework remains open to modification and experimentation. This innovative approach transforms the building itself into a teaching tool, where construction techniques, adaptability, and spatial appropriation are central to the educational experience.

All photographs are works of Federico Farinatti, Willem Pab