Bus Depot RBS, Schwitzerland

Ittigen is a small neighbourhood located in the outskirts of Bern, facto capital of Switzerland. It is mainly a residential area with some small industry in the surrounding. The given plot is placed next to an important highway and a railway, both communicate the cities Bern and Zurich, as well as some mixed-used buildings such as storehouses, industrial production buildings, event spaces, offices, and some small residential blocks. 

This mix of uses of free standing buildings in the area, makes the plot to a perfect spot to place the headquarters of the RBS, which is the leading company in Switzerland for national bus transportation. The building comprises the main bus depot, as well as, the administration areas of the company. 

In addition, the building includes diverse other uses, such as start apps or other commercial equipment, that do not have the necessity of a central location, but are in the need of cheap working spaces, for a long or short period of time.

Through the concept of a lopsided roof, the building not only reacts to the topography of the existing plot and the highs of the surrounding edifications. It also creates an attractive roof landscape where the additional uses can be temporary or in a long term placed in form of ship containers.  

The entrance to the head offices and bus depot is marked by a kink in the shape of the building. It offers an attractive entry to the administration areas in the upper floors, as well as, an access to de depot areas that are located in the basement and part of the ground floor. The depot areas try to submerge with the topography of the previous existing steep terrain, as well as respecting an existing electric tower, which is listed under monumental protection.