On 5 December 2023, Hochparterre magazine once again selected the best projects in the disciplines of architecture, design and landscape architecture at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and awarded the “Rabbit”, the Senn Prize for Young Architecture. The best 2023 briefly summarised: Forward-looking conversion, colourful educational world, high-quality courtyard design and the rabbit: Thoughtfully built economically.

As every year, it’s all about the traditional “Die Besten” – the so-called “Hares” – in the categories of architecture, design and landscape architecture. The Hochparterre editorial team put together a five-member jury for each category together with an editor from Hochparterre. Each jury member nominated a maximum of five works. In August, there was also a public call for entries: up to 50 works per category were submitted. Hochparterre included a maximum of five of these in its quota of five nominations per category.

All works were created between September 2022 and September 2023 and are located in Switzerland or – in the Design category – were created with Swiss participation. The juries selected the “Die Besten” in each category and awarded the gold, silver and bronze hare trophies at the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich. As usual, the museum will present the winners to the public until 7 January 2024.

The 2023 award winners

The “Hares” in the architecture category

Die Umnutzung des alten Weinlagers in Basel spartgraue Energie und schafft architektonische Dynamik. Für diese zukunftweisende Transformation bekommen Esch Sintzel den Hasen in Gold. Foto: Pressebild Hochparterre

The conversion of the old wine warehouse in Basel saves grey energy and creates architectural dynamism. For this forward-looking transformation
Esch Sintzel receive the “Hare in Gold”. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

Das Schulhaus Wallrüti in Winterthur gilt als Modelleiner Klimakrisenarchitektur: Dafür erhält das Büro Schneider Studer Primas den silbernen Hasen. Foto: Pressebild HochparterreThe Wallrüti school building in Winterthur is considered a model of climate crisis architecture: Schneider Studer Primas is awarded the “Silver Hare” for this project. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

Das Haus für Studierende in Genf verdichtet die Stadt auf umsichtige Weise, ist velogerecht und bietetgünstigen Raum. Für diese Leistung wird das Atelier Bonnet mit dem Hasen in Bronze prämiert. Bild: Pressefoto HochparterreThe house for students in Geneva consolidates the city in a prudent manner, is suitable for bicycles and offers affordable space. Atelier Bonnet was awarded the “Bronze Hare” for this achievement. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

The «Hares” in the Design category

Das Designstudio Kueng Caputo hat ein Bürogebäude in Winterthur in ein farbgewaltiges Schulhausverwandelt, das die Lernenden ins Zentrum stellt. Dafür wird es prämiert mit dem Hasen in Gold. Bild: Pressefoto Hochparterre

The Kueng Caputo design studio has transformed an office building in Winterthur into a colourful school building that puts the focus on the students. It has been awarded the “Hare in Gold” for its work. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

Dimitri Bählers Kunst-und-Bau-Projekt für das SchulhausDufour in Biel inszeniert den Klang als fein abgestimmtes, vermittelndes Element. ‹ MMXXII › erhält den Hasen in Silber. Bild: Pressefoto HochparterreDimitri Bähler’s art and construction project for the Dufour school building in Biel stages sound as a finely tuned, mediating element. ‘ MMXXII ‘ receives the “Hare in Silver”. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

‹ Mono [PA6] › heisst der Rucksack, der komplett aus Polyamid 6 besteht und sich als Ganzes rezyklierenlässt. Für den durchdachten Beitrag zur Kreislaufwirtschaft erhält Freitag den Hasen in Bronze. Bild: Pressefoto Hochparterre

Mono [PA6]’ is the name of the rucksack, which is made entirely from polyamide 6 and can be recycled as a whole. Freitag receives the “Bronze Hare” for its thoughtful contribution to the circular economy. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

The «Hares” in the Landscape category

Der goldene Hase für Landschaftsarchitektur geht an das Büro Approches. Mit seinem Innenhofeines Blockrands in Lausanne vereint das Büro Dichte, hohe Ansprüche und Grün. Bild: Pressefoto Hochparterre

The «Golden Hare” for landscape architecture goes to the Approches office. With its inner courtyard of a perimeter block in Lausanne, the office combines density, high standards and greenery. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

Lange Planung und kleine Eingriffe: Im Zürcher Hochschulquartier hat Mavo Landschaftenhalböffentliche Gärten durchgängig und zugänglich gemacht. Dafür gibt es den silbernen Hasen. Bild: Pressefoto HochparterreLong planning and small interventions: Mavo Landscapes has made semi-public gardens in Zurich’s university neighbourhood accessible. The «Silver Hare” was awarded for this. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

Der bronzene Hase geht an die partizipative Zwischennutzung Vorpark im Berner Holligenquartier.Was bleibt nach vier Jahren experimentieren und entwickeln? Bild: Pressefoto Hochparterre

The «Bronze Hare” goes to the participatory interim use of Vorpark in Bern’s Holligen neighbourhood. What remains after four years of experimentation and development? Image: Press photo Hochparterre

And last but not least, “The Rabbit”

Norma Tollmann hat in Basel ein Wohnhaus für Familien gebaut. Das ‹ Stadtkind Basel ›, das Sparsamkeitmit Erfindungsreichtum kombiniert, erhält das Kaninchen, den Senn-Förderpreis für junge Architektur. Foto: Pressebild Hochparterre

Norma Tollmann has built a family home in Basel. The ‘Stadtkind Basel’, which combines thriftiness with inventiveness, receives the «The Rabbit”, the Senn Award for young architecture. Image: Press photo Hochparterre

The winning projects can be seen at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich from 6 December 2023 to 7 January 2024: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, closed on Mondays and 24/25 December and 1 January.

The December issue of Hochparterre presents the winning projects. It will be published on 6 December 2023. The Hochparterre news portal shows all the nominated projects, features the jury members’ votes and presents the winners: www.hochparterre.ch/diebesten.