The Federal Palace or Parliament in the capital of Berne is Switzerland’s most important political structure. Key components of the lighting design are the historical significance, the political relevance, and the contemporary use of forms for the new room elements. The lighting fixtures remain, for the most part, hidden through their careful integration in the architectural structure. Luminaires were used that had historical significance but that were equipped with modern lighting technology. Their design of the luminaires is clear and simple and were created using the highest quality materials with painstaking attention to detail, for example the diamond-pattern which was cut into the optical glass housing. The exterior lighting was completed using varying illumination levels and grey filters. The architectural lighting imparts a watercolour effect to the building, appropriate for the public sphere and TV coverage.

REALISATION
2005–2009

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS
CHF 97'700'000

AWARDS
2009 IES Illumination Award of Merit
2009 Prix Lumière 2009, 3. Platz
2010 Dr. Jost Hartmann Preis, Denkmalpflege der Stadt Bern
2010 Nominierung Tageslichtaward, Velux Stiftung

CLIENT
Schweizer Staat
vertreten durch
Bundesamt für Bauten und Logistik BBL
3003 Bern

ARCHITECTS
Aebi & Vincent Architekten SIA AG
3007 Bern

PROJECT TEAM VP
Christian Vogt
Luciano Marcassa
Christine Hess
Janice Hoare
Erich Sturzenegger

PHOTOS
Aebi & Vincent Architekten, Adrian Scheidegger & Thomas Telley
BBL/Alexander Gempeler, Bern
foto-panorama
Parlamentsdienste 3003 Bern
Mike Helbling
vogtpartner