EM2N, whose acronym still contains the initials of two former partners, is an up-and-coming Swiss architectural practice co-founded by Mathias Müller and Daniel Niggli. EM2N keep attracting attention with successful competition entries and realizations. In March 2006, the team won the competition for the conversion of Zurich’s Toni complex, beating off international competitors. The plan is to build an educational and cultural centre, including a number of university departments, which will be of gigantic proportions by Swiss standards. Another one of their plans for Zurich surrounds the transformation of viaduct arches.
The ambitious refurbishment of Zurich’s viaduct arches began in 2004 as an architectural design competition and is set to be complete in 2010. The large and complex project involves transforming the space under the city’s historic structure into usable cultural and commercial attractions. The viaduct was originally built to support the city’s early rail lines from the 19th century. Now the structure separates the urban part of zurich and the city centre. EM2N’s design unites the two areas with the space and features bubble windows to bring light in and a large market hall. The old stone walls remain in the space and the viaduct remains almost untouched. We’re loving the bubble sky lights!
