Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

The Burgdorf Castle Foundation is the owner of the 800-plus-year-old building. It wants to preserve the castle for future generations as a protected architectural monument of national importance, open it to the public and make it available for cultural and other uses. The castle’s rich history is there for all to experience. The Foundation’s profits and capital are used exclusively for this purpose.

Does the place adapt while at the same time preserving its built heritage?

In 2012, the cantonal administration moved out of the castle as the consequence of a reform. The cantonal building authority put Burgdorf Castle up for sale along with other castles. The mayor at the time wanted to preserve the castle as a public place and organised a competition for its future use. The winning project by ARGE Schloss Burgdorf (Atelier G + S, Martin Sturm, Bernhard Furrer) envisaged a complex comprising a youth hostel, museum, restaurant and wedding chamber. The Burgdorf Castle Foundation was established to implement the project. The Canton of Bern entrusted the castle to the Foundation, with all benefits and liabilities, as of 1 October 2017. In 2020, the converted architectural monument reopened its doors.

Does the place foster sustainable mobility?

Walking along the winding path up the castle hill, the traffic of the city is far away. But the castle is also easily accessible by public transport or by bike. Cars must be left in a car park in the city. Upon reaching the summit, you are greeted in the courtyard by wonderful tranquillity and an unbelievable expansive view over the Emme.

Is the place economically viable in the long view?

The foundation succeeded in completely financing the renovation costs of nearly 18 million Swiss francs through broad sponsorship from the public sector, foundations, businesses and private individuals. Those responsible have been running Burgdorf Castle successfully since it opened. According to the Foundation, both the number of overnight stays in the youth hostel and the number of visitors to the museum have exceeded expectations. Should the castle – or part of it – be used for another purpose at some other point in time, the building and courtyard can be adapted again.

Does the place bring different people together?

Burgdorf Castle is a place for everyone who likes to travel through time and offers a multitude of attractions that bring people together. For example, day guests and hotel guests intermingle in the restaurant and courtyard. The youth hostel has a room for reading and play, a small kitchen, and a lobby with many places to sit that are open to all the guests and allow for spontaneous encounters. Such encounters are also possible in the museum, where educational activities such as a shadow theatre or a trunk filled with costumes invite visitors to join in.

Does present-day design improve the quality of the existing?

Burgdorf Castle and its youth hostel were honoured at the end of October 2021 with the audience award of Atuprix, the prize for Bernese Baukultur. The Atuprix is awarded every three years for exemplary, contemporary and interdisciplinary works. Immediately thereafter, in November 2021, the Burgdorf Castle youth hostel was honoured by ICOMOS Suisse, the Swiss national group of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, with the special award “Historic Hotel of the Year 2022”, which is awarded to lodging establishments that outstandingly meet the Council’s high standards for monument preservation and restoration.

Are local, regional and historical values integrated into the design and management of the place?

The entire castle has much to tell. Both the museum and the furnishings of the 31 guest rooms echo the story. Each of the guest rooms has a small installation with objects that convey something about the local history. Education and history are playfully integrated into the experience.

Does the place make people feel at ease?

Getting married, celebrating, marvelling, sleeping and learning – all this can be done in the castle that was greatly expanded by the Zähringer around the year 1200. As the figures show, visitors make use of the whole range of offerings. When the sun shines through the branches of the spreading lime tree in the inner courtyard, it is almost as if time has lost all reference. As a visitor, you feel somewhere between the ages – between history and the present.