Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten

Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten

Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Image 2 of 14Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Image 3 of 14Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Table, ChairRhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Image 5 of 14Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - More Images+ 9

Laufen-Uhwiesen, Switzerland

From the architect.

Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Facade, Windows
© Roger Frei

Located in Canton Zurich, the Rhine Falls visitor center defines the entry to Laufen castle and the pathway leading to Europe’s largest waterfall. The program required integrating a souvenir shop, bistro, public toilet facilities and a multipurpose hall into an existing staff house.

Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Windows, Facade
© Roger Frei

The difficult task of transforming the nondescript house into a public building was achieved by extending the pitched roof and developing a new skin that wraps the entire structure. The new façade, made of weatherproof steel plates, forms a suit of armor that unifies the building into a primary form.

Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten - Image 2 of 14
© Roger Frei

On the ground level, folded canopies reveal a second layer with entries, vitrines and a ticket counter. The perforated steel elements on the upper level filter sunlight into the multipurpose hall.

Floor Plan

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Project location

Address:Laufen-Uhwiesen, Switzerland

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Rhine Falls Visitor Center / Leuppi & Schafroth Architekten" 17 Jul 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/401691/rhine-falls-visitor-center-leuppi-and-schafroth-architekten> ISSN 0719-8884

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