Conversion Bärenplatz, Bern

The project
In a first step, the new client PSP Swiss Property had the buildings put through their paces. By means of a so-called stratigraphic examination, walls, ceilings and floors were probed and the layers of paint were removed layer by layer to see what was hidden behind them. At Bärenplatz 27, the house closest to Bundesplatz, it was possible to uncover a wall painted over its entire surface, showing a family tree dating from 1685. Such finds are unique and will be preserved. The paintings were gently restored and integrated into an apartment.

The construction method
The existing buildings were examined not only for historic paintings, but also for their construction methods and structural condition. The multiple renovations to the buildings have left their mark: In some cases, adjustments were made to the upper floors without checking where the resulting forces could be dissipated. Renovation measures were therefore necessary.

The challenge
Ventilation, cooling and cabling had to be accommodated and static requirements met without severely altering the buildings. "High-tech in historic preservation" was called for. Today, intercepting structures, so-called explosive structures made of wood, absorb the forces from the upper floors and transfer them downward.