Schoolhouse Leutschenbach

In addition to the main prize which was won by Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), the Velux Stiftung chose the Leutschenbach school building in Zurich for an honorary award (CHF 20,000.–). According to the jury of the Daylight Award (Tageslicht-Award), “the building designed by Swiss architect Christian Kerez is a convincing demonstration of the interplay between daylight, architecture and construction. The different types of glazing create a range of specific lighting effects. The highlight of this tower-like school is the spectacular gymnasium on the roof, which is glazed on all four sides, making users feel as if their sports activities are taking place in the open air.”

In this interview, Christian Kerez talks about the ideas behind the building, the challenges, and the importance of natural light in his work.