Emerging studios in action

AF: Switzerland has experienced significant dynamism in the construction industry, influenced by various factors such as a notable demographic increase and a robust economy that supports the social service system. This environment has allowed emerging studios to emerge and consolidate during this new period in the Swiss construction sector, largely thanks to a valuable tool rooted in Swiss tradition: the architectural design competition. The open procedure of these competitions enables emerging studios to participate and launch themselves without necessarily having prior references. However, since these are open competitions, they also contend with established firms that may have 30 or 40 collaborators, which makes success a considerable challenge. Achieving a positive result in this competitive landscape is not guaranteed, but when emerging studios do succeed, it demonstrates their incredible quality and ability to surpass more seasoned practices.

Indeed, a category of studios consistently wins competitions—those with a well-established team and a strong track record. They participate regularly, ensuring they remain present in the competition landscape. Emerging studios do win competitions, but their success rate is generally lower than that of the larger firms. However, the ability of these emerging studios to establish themselves with excellent results or even win competitions highlights their capacity to tackle complex problems. They often bring a fresher perspective, emphasising the use of sustainable materials and flexible typologies that can adapt to diverse user needs. This adaptability resonates with younger generations and reflects a continuous exploration of spatial dynamics, making their typological research a compelling alternative response in competitions. These themes stem from both the competition's demands and the emerging generation's heightened sensitivity to contemporary issues. 

Answering contemporary challenges

AF: There is a solid awareness of the conditions we face today. Switzerland's limited territory is defined by clear perimeters; the countryside is preserved, preventing the kind of sprawling developments seen in other countries. Our goal is to densify the city within these ecological constraints, which is preferable to building in a way that encroaches on the countryside. Currently, there is a strong demand to utilise existing infrastructure. This often involves remodelling and readjusting previously built contexts, rather than focusing solely on constructing new buildings. Today's cities need to densify, whether by raising existing buildings or adapting them to new functions. Emerging studios frequently bring innovative ideas to this challenge, resulting in more intelligent, creative solutions that are often received with greater customer satisfaction. 

The types of projects often put up for competition include the construction of schools. This focus on schools reflects the demographic increase and the need to provide services to a growing population. Recently, there has been an evolution in school typology. More than before, spaces within schools—be they elementary, middle, or high schools—are designed to be flexible. This means that spaces are not permanently defined for a single use; instead, they encourage fluidity. Modular spaces are increasingly common, with corridors and circulation areas being repurposed for educational activities. These transition spaces facilitate synergies between different classes and student activities, making them integral to the learning environment.

In addition to schools, many competitions focus on social housing. Here, architects aim to anticipate the long-term use of a home, recognising that family dynamics evolve over time. For example, a family of five may eventually shrink to two or three as children move out for education or work. This change allows for a reconfiguration of space, such as creating a home office for remote work or transforming a room into an apartment for a caregiver who assists elderly family members. The adaptability of housing is essential to accommodate diverse scenarios, including single-parent households or families with changing needs. As a result, housing typologies are evolving to better serve these varying family structures. This ongoing typological research seeks to meet the demands of contemporary living arrangements, reflecting the dynamic nature of family life today.

Alberto Figuccio Architettura’s adventure

AF: I’ve been on quite a journey, deeply tied to my passion for architecture and design. I began my studies at the IUAV in Venice, completing my undergraduate degree there before moving on to the Mendrisio Academy through a scholarship. My experience in Mendrisio was invaluable, as I had the opportunity to learn from great professors, including Peter Zumthor and Luigi Snozzi, who significantly influenced my educational journey and continue to shape my work today.

This path has broadened my horizons more than attending an international university would have, even if it would have exposed me to diverse cultures and students from around the world. After university, I immediately dove into competitions. Along with friends, I entered small design competitions, often achieving good results. These early successes encouraged me to pursue architectural competitions further. About ten years ago, I participated in the Europan competition, which is aimed at architects under 40 and held biennially in various European countries. I chose to design a new eco-district for a Swiss city and won. Two years later, I entered Europan 11, focusing on Montaigne in Valais, and once again I received the first prize. These experiences fuelled my desire to continue engaging with the profession through competitions. Switzerland's open and anonymous competition format provided me with the opportunity to participate in and win several more competitions, helping to solidify my professional career. Some notable projects include a school complex in Lausanne and a new entrance for an engineering university in Yverdon-les-Bains, among various social housing competitions. We currently have several projects in different phases: some underway, some in the pipeline, and others already completed. 

My professional journey has truly revolved around the competition process, which has allowed me to build a practice with collaborators and interns who actively contribute to our work. It’s a challenging but rewarding process; at first, you may lose more than you win. Even winning competitions comes after many losses. Participation itself is a form of training, as there's no manual on how to succeed in competitions. It requires constant practice and a willingness to learn from failures. I often advise my collaborators to embrace this reality: we must persevere and accept losses, as they provide invaluable lessons. By analysing what others did better and how they solved certain problems, we can improve for the next opportunity. 

The work done in preparing a competition, even if it doesn't lead to a win, is never wasted. For example, if you participate in a school competition, even if you don't win, you've still deepened your understanding of school design. This learning process will benefit future school competitions. The program for schools is quite standardised, as it follows the regulations and requirements set by the cantons. As a result, one school competition will often follow 90% of the same guidelines as another. The main differences might be in the specific quantities or the inclusion of additional programs, such as gyms or extracurricular blocks for post-school activities. The work never goes to waste—it’s constantly evolving to become more efficient, more innovative, and more aligned with typological research.

What’s new for the studio?

AF: We participate in a wide variety of programs. For example, one competition we won was for a new  complex in Lausanne. It wasn't just a school, but included a large gymnasium, an educational building, and a support building complex for six-year-old students, as well as an extracurricular group for after-school activities. The project also involved developing a public space strategy for the neighbourhood where the school was built. 

This was a particularly interesting experience because we worked for the city of Lausanne, our client, and the school was completed in 2021. What’s remarkable about this project is that we didn’t just build a school that operates during the day for students; it’s a space that serves the neighbourhood on weekends too. The recreational area for the students is an open space that connects seamlessly with the neighbourhood spaces. So, we created a public space for a new population that had recently arrived in Lausanne. The neighbourhood itself was developed only a few years before the school, so the entire area is part of a new system that was built within the past decade. Today, it thrives with a high quality of public spaces, and the school’s design and integration with these public areas played a significant role in this success.

We are constantly involved in multiple competitions, which is a core activity of our studio. Often, we work in collaboration with other studios, even when it isn’t explicitly required by the competition or the client. This multidisciplinary approach is something we value and promote. For example, we’re currently working on an eco-neighbourhood for the municipality of Meyrin in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. The project began in 2021 after winning the competition, and after two years of close collaboration with the public administration, we’ve now reached the construction phase.

When a competition is well-organised, it supports the entire process—from the early study phases after the win, through applying for building permits, and into the execution and construction phases. It’s a long process, but the Swiss competition system helps maintain a high level of quality throughout, even on the construction site. The administration and clients put a lot of trust in the project and the professionals behind it, which ensures that the objectives of the competition are carried forward. Construction for this project has just begun and will last for the next 4 to 5 years. 

Dealing with setbacks

AF: We always try to stay grounded. Of course, we participate in competitions to win—that’s our main objective—but it's rare that we completely disagree with the selection. This also reflects the quality of the Swiss competition process and how well it’s organised. Usually, the winning project is well-chosen by a jury after a thorough analysis, and it means that it meets the needs outlined in the competition program. So, while it’s disappointing not to win, it also means there was someone better, and we always acknowledge the quality of the winning work. From that, we learn how to improve.

In Switzerland, we’re fortunate to have oversight bodies that supervise the public market. There’s a regulatory body (SIA) that ensures competitions comply with a procedure that safeguards the interests of professionals. The SIA establishes protocols that administrations must follow, ensuring fairness and protecting the work professionals do in the early stages of competitions. Juries are also regulated; they must include both independent professionals and non-professionals. The non-professionals are often city council members or future users of the facility (like a school), while the independent professionals might be architects, engineers, or landscape architects. The professional members usually help guide the non-professionals, raising awareness on the best solutions based on the needs outlined in the program. There’s a lot of trust in the jury, which is often led by professionals.