Architecture: Modern buildings

AQUATIS, in the centre of Lausanne, is dedicated to the world's rivers and lakes and all the fresh water fish and reptiles that live in them. The journey in AQUATIS starts at the very beginning...

With its coating of pink granite, the spherical Ste-Trinité Church arouses curiosity. Set in the centre of the city, this singular church stands out amid the surrounding buildings. Built in 1994, its original architecture is subject to a range of interpretations.

This building at 2-4 rue Saint-Laurent (in the Villereuse area) can appear out-of-date these days, but when it was designed by the famous Swiss architect Le Corbusier in 1931-32, it was really a very futuristic project. Everything is made with steel and glass. The metallic frame frees the interior walls from all supporting functions.

Fine arts, photography and contemporary art brought together in one single spot near Lausanne station, in a cultural area that is unique in Switzerland.

Aarau has long been a hidden gem for those in the know when it comes to culture: in addition to its picturesque old town, Aarau impresses with notable historic buildings and surprises with exciting combinations of old and modern architecture.

This 9-storey aluminium, glass and steel building is an extremely practical creation and fully deserves its place in the urban infrastructure due to its original volumetry in the shape of a wing. The ninth floor is occupied by a cafeteria with a panoramic terrace overlooking the lake and city.

Opened in 1841, the Vaud Museum of Fine Arts in Lausanne is one of the oldest museums in Switzerland exclusively dedicated to art. The museum presents several temporary exhibitions each year from its collection of 10,000 works.

Here, the imaginary world of the Smurfs has been recreated in the form of houses with extravagant curves. Behind the Cornavin station, these buildings in their improbable shapes and unexpected colours never fail to surprise! Welcome to the world of the Smurfs!

Good architecture is not only self-evident, instead as important to the city as the bend in the Rhine. Here you have buildings by international stars like Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid – and the world-famous Basel-based duo Herzog & de Meuron. Anyone keen on architecture is in their element here, and able to follow one of three architectural paths.

ECAL, Lausanne's University of Art and Design, is one of the world's most prestigious art educational institutions.

The postal bus station at Chur train station is one of the city’s most striking buildings. The imposing glass dome provides shelter for passengers and buses in all weathers and serves as a starting point for many interesting rides aboard the yellow buses.

From romanesque and historicism through to modern architecture – downtown Zurich boasts a diverse range of architectural styles.

The Espacité Tower offers almost 360-degree views above the Old Town of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

The Trafo Baden, originally a transformer assembly hall dating back to the 1920s, is a prime example of effective building conversion in conjunction with new construction.

With its collection of 150,000 items in some 80 languages, the Martin Bodmer Foundation is among the largest private libraries in the world.

This extension to the "Bernisches Historisches Museum" (Historical Museum) is sure to amaze with its exhibition hall sunk into the ground and its significant extension programme.

The Cité du Temps – French for the City of Time – is nestled in the heart of Biel, the world's watchmaking capital. This special place entirely dedicated to time unites under one roof the playful, cheerful style of the brand Swatch and the luxurious character of Omega offering its visitors an opportunity to explore two different worlds of watchmaking represented in two museums: Omega Museum and Planet Swatch.

With the new construction of the exhibition center through the Basel-based Herzog & de Meuron star architects, Basel has a new architectonic landmark. And in the context of a guided tour, visitors are able to view the diverse buildings of this impressive exhibition center.

The new, airy, bright Information Centre of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne with its curved lines is a delightful example of modern architecture.

The Art Museum Winterthur possesses one of the most beautiful modern art collections in Switzerland. But artistic works don’t come to a halt here - as the building constructed in 1995 by the Zurich-based architects Gigon & Guyer makes the hearts of even less passionate art lovers beat faster.

The Dürrenmatt Centre created by Mario Botta offers an exhibition environment which borrows both from literature and from the fine arts.

Its conquest by the Romans 2,000 years ago is an important part of Chur’s history as a settlement. Findings dating back to this period are housed in these protective structures designed by star architect Peter Zumthor.

The international Würth Group is headquartered in Chur. The company’s presence enhances Chur’s economy and its headquarters building is regarded as a special gem by those tourists who are interested in culture. Its distinctive architecture is greatly admired as are the exhibits at the Forum Würth Chur.

It is without a doubt one of the most interesting topics in modern urban design: the spatial planning of urban districts.

Monumental and as austere as an archaic temple, the new vocational school is located at the entrance to Baden. Its architecture reveals very little of the building’s purpose to those passing by.

The Merker-Areal, where washing machines and household appliances were once manufactured, has been turned into an attractive working and residential area. Instead of putting up a new construction, the original factory structure, with its valued industrial, cultural and historical associations, was preserved.

The Falken residential and commercial building impresses with its confident appearance and ambivalent aspect.

Livio Vacchini planned and constructed this commercial building between 2000 and 2003.

The Pasquart is a space for innovative, creative young artists and encourages those with talent to develop new works of art for the exhibitions.

As his first project, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, who later called himself Le Corbusier, built the Maison Blanche for his parents on the hills of his native town. This architectural masterpiece served this world-famous architect as a laboratory for his first construction techniques.

A detour to the Messeplatz exhibition space in Basel is always worthwhile - even when there’s no large-scale exhibition taking place. The spacious area at the heart of what’s known as Kleinbasel - little Basel, is surrounded by some mind-boggling architecture: The 105 sky-meter-high Morger & Degelo tower - and the new Herzog & de Meuron construction with its “window to the heavens.”

Set in the heart of Lausanne, the Flon area has evolved in recent years into a modern and innovative district which pulsates both day and night.