3XN & IttenBrechbühl on to Design Wooden Tower in Switzerland

3XN and IttenBrechbühl have been appointed to design the Tilia Tower, an ambitious and sustainable wooden building on the outskirts of Lausanne in Switzerland. The scheme includes an 85-metre-tall tower as well as the transformation and renovation of two existing buildings for the real estate company Insula SA, part of the Realstone Group. The new mixed-use tower consists of apartments, retail, and a hotel.

Located in Prilly-Malley, a dynamic and rapidly developing district in the western suburbs of Lausanne, the Tilia Tower will be a key player in the development of the area. The project has a mixed program consisting of apartments, a hotel, co-working, co-making and various public functions such as bars, shops, restaurants, and cafés. The public functions will help to activate the area and contribute to a richer local environment at all times of the day.

In addition to the building’s varied program, diversity is also a key driver in the building’s design. The variation is reflected in the façade’s rhythmic expression. The apartments are structured as a series of individual elements that shift on top of each other in a rational arrangement. The result is a complex building with an open and strong identity and an organic expression that breaks with the classic homogeneous box.

The deep window niches and terraces reach out and create a connection between the building, its users, and the outdoor space, giving the Tilia Tower, a lively yet refined expression. The depth of the niches and terraces optimises energy efficiency through shading and daylight optimisation, and creates comfortable, undisturbed recreational outdoor areas.

In addition to providing a good indoor climate, the choice of wood also contributes to a significant reduction in the CO2 footprint. A new square will be established in front of the building which will create a green urban space with biodiverse plants and microorganisms.

Connected to the new high-rise is an older but well-functioning office building and badminton hall. The two existing buildings will undergo a transformation that consists of an energy-efficient renovation and update of the façades to match the new building. The goal of the entire project is to achieve the ambitious Minergie-P certification.

The architects and developer look forward to realising the ambitious construction, where the sustainable solutions support the architecture and aesthetics.