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Architecture of Switzerland |
The architecture of Switzerland is original and impressive as well as
its art
and history.
Nowadays many Swiss architects have international reputation. Being
remarkably innovative Swiss architecture can be considered by right one
of the most precious treasure of modern art. Many talented and
influential architects were born here. For example Le Corbusier
(1887-1965), the greatest architect of the 20th century, who
established new principles of town-planning: rationality, economy and
functionalism.
The best-known contemporary Swiss architects are Mario Botta, Herzog
and de Meuron. Mario Botta (1943) designed his first building at the
age of 16. He was studied at the Liceo Artistico in Milan and the
Istituto Universitario di Architettura in Venice, and started his own
practice in 1970 in Lugano. Having been influenced by Le Corbusier, in
his design Botta creates simple shapes which reflect his strong sense
of geometry. Botta's works are wide-spread in Switzerland, especially
in Ticino region where the architect was born. Among his most
remarkable buildings - a cathedral near Évry, the San
Francisco
museum of Modern Art and, of course, his work at La Scala theatre
renovation. In 2006 Mario Botta received the Grand Officer award form
the President of the Italian republic.
Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron met in Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology in Zurich
and, in 1978, founded an architecture firm. These were they who headed
two prize-winning projects in London: the design of the Laban Dance
Centre and the conversion of the Bankside Power Station in London to
the new home of the Tate Museum of Modern Art which was so successful
that it was planned to be extended by 2012. In 2001 Herzog and de
Meuron were awarded the highest of honors in architecture - the
Pritzker Prize. At the momemt Herzog and de Meuron are working at the
main stadium for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Besides architects of Swiss origin there are many foreign ones, whose
splendid buildings decorate cities and towns of Switzerland, for
example the Luzern
Culture and Convention Centre by Jean Nouvel and the Paul Klee Zentrum
in Bern by Renzo
Piano.
Thanks to these talented architects and a great number of others
tourists can enjoy many prominent buildings, made according to
innovative technologies and modern style, while travel Switzerland.
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