
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.