Aebi & Vincent Architekten SIA AG

Youth Hostel Bern

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger

YOUTH HOSTEL BERN

Aebi & Vincent Architects

LOCATION
Bern, Switzerland

CATEGORY
Hostel

PROJECT YEAR
2018

AREA
2750.0 m2

OTHER PARTICIPENT
Raffael Niklaus, Daniel Klemp, Paula Valenzuela, Reto Weyeneth, Jonas Leibundgut, Martina Lossli, Franziska Gerlach, Karola Kamp, Lino Dumont, Jan Dubach, Maximilian Willier

LEAD AARCHITECTS
Bernhard Aebi, Pascal Vincent, Philipp Morf

MANUFACTERERS
horgenglarus, Energie Genossenschaft Schweiz (EGeh), Filigran Bauelemente AG, Röthlisberger Schreinerei AG and Aebi & Vincent Architects, Tschannen Metallbautechnik AG

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger

Text description provided by architect.

Refurbishment and extension of Bern youth hostel / The youth hostel in Bern is located where the Stadtbach stream once flowed into the River Aare.

Youth Hostel Bern
an Sch© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
an Sch© Adrian Scheidegger

Built in 1955/56 after a design by Peter Indermühle, the ensemble forms together with the octagonal building across the street the entrance to the quarter. 

The part of the building to the east of the dining hall has now been replaced by a detached structure that echoes the slender volume of the main building.

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger

In conjunction with the angular historical complex, this opens up space towards the quarter and the Aare.

The outdoor area with its imposing plane tree was supplemented by a plateau leading from the main entrance to the new annex.

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger

Due to its location in a wetland area, the new wing is raised off the ground to protect it from possible flooding.

Peter Indermühle’s buildings were adapted with great respect to the new requirements.

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger

The entrance area with bar was lowered back to its original level.

The 20 rooms with a total of 90 beds have been reorganized within the existing structure.

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger

Like the renovated transverse bed wing, the new building has four stories with single-loaded corridors and is accessed from one end; it houses 30 rooms with a total of 90 beds.

Reduced to a minimum in structural terms, the building stands on twelve piles that transfer the loads to the foundation ground.

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
an Sch© Adrian Scheidegger

The curtain wall is made of precast white concrete and carries forward the theme of framed windows from the room wing and the structured façade of the dining hall in the heritage building as well as harmonizing with the wooden cladding of the houses along the street.

Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger
Youth Hostel Bern
© Adrian Scheidegger


Youth Hostel Bern
Ground Floor Plan
Youth Hostel Bern
First Floor Plan
Youth Hostel Bern
Second Floor Plan
Youth Hostel Bern
Third Floor Plan


Youth Hostel Bern
North Elevation
Youth Hostel Bern
West Elevation
Youth Hostel Bern
South Elevation
Youth Hostel Bern
East Elevation


Youth Hostel Bern
Stairs Detail
Youth Hostel Bern
Window Detail
Youth Hostel Bern
Site Plan

Aebi & Vincent Architekten SIA AG
T +41 31 3211010 F +41 31 3211011
Aebi & Vincent Architekten SIA AG
Monbijoustrasse 61, 3007 Bern, Switzerland