PROJECT

Hotel Leo, St. Gallen, Switzerland

CLIENT

Pensionskasse St. Gallen

ARCHITECT

Boltshauser Architekten AG

CONTRACTOR

HRS Real Estate AG

CONSULTANT AND SUPPLIER

Backstein Kontor

BOND

wild bond

FACING BRICKS

linea 7035 en linea 7036

Photo's: © Kuster Frey

The Villa Wiesental, a historic Gründerzeit villa built in 1878 by architect Daniel Oertli, stood as a testament to the craftsmanship and grandeur of its time. Commissioned by Konrad Menet Tanner, a wealthy textile merchant, the villa and its garden in St. Gallen, Switzerland, fell into disrepair after years of neglect. To ensure its preservation and reintegration into modern urban life, the owners proposed a thoughtful redevelopment plan. Central to this transformation was the construction of a seven-story modern structure adjacent to the villa, designed to complement its historical significance. At the heart of this architectural narrative was the selection and use of facing bricks, which not only served aesthetic purposes but also played a crucial role in the project's conceptual and material harmony.

Architectural vision and design perspective

The design of the new building was rooted in respect for the historical and urban context of the site. Positioned on Rosenbergstrasse, the project had to balance its presence amidst a villa district, highway access, and proximity to a bustling train station. The architects envisioned a structure that would act as a landmark at the edge of the city center while preserving the villa’s primacy.

To achieve this, the new building was set back to create a semi-public outdoor space that frames the villa. Its narrow profile and vertical facade divisions were meticulously designed to echo the proportions of nearby historical structures, fostering a dialogue between old and new. The ground floor’s vibrant bar and restaurant and the upper levels with 102 hotel rooms establish the building as a dynamic, functional addition to the area.

The selection of facing bricks was a decisive factor in materializing this vision. Their integration into the facade was driven by a desire to harmonize the building’s contemporary character with the villa’s heritage, while emphasizing sustainability and tactile authenticity.

The choice of facing bricks

The architects opted for facing bricks with a beige and greenish tone, inspired by the Bollinger sandstone used in the villa’s stone masonry. This decision reflects a commitment to creating visual continuity between the old and new structures. After an extensive search, the team selected the bricks linea 7035 and 7036. These bricks met the project’s aesthetic and technical requirements, offering colour, texture and versatility. The beige and greenish hues aligned perfectly with the villa’s stone masonry, providing a subtle yet effective visual connection. The bricks’ textured surface and “flat stone format emphasized the verticality of the new building, reinforcing its proportions and complementing its design”, Bolthauser architects state. The uniformity and ability to combine the bricks’ tones allowed for precise customization, ensuring the facade resonated with the villa’s heritage.

Contribution to the project’s concept

The facing bricks were more than a stylistic choice; they were integral to the material philosophy of the project. The architects aimed to craft a design that celebrated the natural qualities of untreated materials, creating an interplay of raw and refined elements. The facade’s bricks, made from fired clay, embody this approach with their earthy tones and textures connecting the building to its natural surroundings and historic roots, establishing an organic aesthetic. The use of fired clay bricks for the façade demonstrates durability ensuring long-lasting performance, even in the challenging Swiss climate. The combination of materials, including steel, wood, and pressed clay, results in a coherent, tactile environment. The visual and material continuity between the villa and the new structure creates a harmonious ensemble that bridges past and present. Also inside, the use of Terrapad pressed clay bricks for the partition walls of the hotel rooms demonstrates a commitment to environmentally conscious construction. This approach enhances the building’s thermal performance and contributes to a healthy indoor climate.

The revitalization of the Villa Wiesental exemplifies how thoughtful material choices can enrich architectural projects. The facing bricks, inspired by the villa’s historic stonework, serve as a critical link between the old and the new. Their selection and application demonstrate how contemporary design can honor heritage while meeting modern functional and sustainability standards. This project stands as a beacon of architectural innovation and respect for cultural history, proving that materials are not merely construction elements but essential storytellers in the built environment.

These linea Hand-Made facing bricks are now produced in the slimmer ecological ECO-7-size format. With this we further increase the sustainability of the construction sector in terms of production and raw materials, given that around 30% less CO2 emissions, less raw materials and less energy are used in the production of these facing bricks.

Below we list the advantages of ECO-7-size:

• 30% less CO2 emissions
• An optimized price-quality ratio
• Can be processed with traditional techniques
• The same quality and lifespan as the classic format
• More efficient transport
• Less raw materials in production
• Less energy consumption in production