Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

The two founders of the architectural firm Bart & Buchhofer initiate the real estate company WOW Immobilien as a second source of income. Werk11 is the third building they have completed in Biel/Bienne in their dual role as developers and architects. They designed the timber building together with their team, and today the architecture firm also manages it.

Does the place serve its purpose?

Initially intended as a mixed-use residential and commercial building, Werk11 now provides space for a variety of creative professionals – architects, filmmakers, graphic designers and even a dance studio have their workplaces here. Each of the four floors is designed so that walls can be added or removed to suit the tenants’ spatial needs. But the building also functions a little like a communal living arrangement, with smaller businesses sharing a large space to enjoy the spaciousness of the architecture.

Does the place promote biodiversity?

About a third of the site has been laid out as a garden that borders a branch of the Suze river. Despite the construction work, the existing shrubs and trees along the riverbank have been retained. Groups of newly planted Scots pines and native shrubs and herbaceous perennials also grace the garden, which is divided into several zones. This provides a welcome oasis in the middle of the city for the hundred or so people who work in the building, as well as for insects, birds and small animals.

Is the place affordable thanks to economy of design, construction and operation?

Since the architects were building for themselves as well as other creative people, function, user wishes and economic viability had to be constantly balanced. On the one hand, Werk11 is a straightforward timber building with a concrete circulation core – rational and efficient. On the other hand, room heights of at least three metres, wide open-air corridors on both long sides, communal rooms on the ground floor and an extensive garden combine to offer a range of spaces that tenants in this price category do not easily find.

Does the place foster community?

For the building’s initiators, it was important not to predetermine everything. For example, two tenants had decided to divide their floor in a way that allows them to share a meeting room. On the ground floor, everyone has access to a large room that is equipped with a kitchen and whose use has yet to be decided. In the garden, a gravelled area invites people to play boules together and an existing kiosk encourages temporary activities. Last but not least, the open-air corridors are places for short or long encounters.

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

In the centre of Biel/Bienne, between the ambulance service, sports hall, fire station and the large new Esplanade development, the timber building stands out from its grey surroundings. It adds a friendly and warm accent to an otherwise predominantly commercial area. The round windows at either end of the building look like eyes observing the goings-on. Together with the monopitch roofs on two sides, they break up the austerity of the building and its surroundings.

Is the use compatible with ecological principles?

The technically simple, environmentally friendly and economical means of construction and the versatile structure of the building make it possible to accommodate a wide range of current and future uses, meaning that the building is built to last. A 400-square-metre rooftop solar array produces more electricity than is needed to run the building. Instead of providing parking for private cars, there is a shared mobility car on site. Bicycle parking is also provided.

Does the place’s beauty contribute to people’s well-being?

The floors receive daylight from two sides and, with the adjacent open-air corridors and garden as outdoor areas, provide a pleasant working environment. Light, air and space are available in abundance. As a building material that is also present in the interior, wood gives the offices and studios an almost homelike feel. It is quite conceivable that people will live here in the future.