Main entrance- Community building ‘La Tuffière’ in Corpataux-Magnedens / 2b architectes

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Completed in 2007 by Swiss architecture firm 2b architectes and NB.Arch La Tuffiere Cultural Center blends into the village context and evokes vernacular architectural archetypes through the reinterpretation of well-known silhouettes.

La Tuffière Technical Information

By uniformly using the material (Tuff stone) both for walls and the roof, the building has a monolithic character – a calm, confident presence from which a deep connection to the context is revealed without denying the building’s exceptional, confident character as a public cultural center.

– 2b architectes

La Tuffière Photographs
Exterior view -Community building ‘La Tuffière’ in Corpataux-Magnedens / 2b architectes

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Openings - Community building ‘La Tuffière’ in Corpataux-Magnedens / 2b architectes

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Exterior stone

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Winter exterior image

© 2b architectes

Openings - Windows

© 2b architectes

Entrance Hall :a Tuffiere

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Interior

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Pink interior room - Community building ‘La Tuffière’ in Corpataux-Magnedens / 2b architectes

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Green interior room - cultural centre

© Thomas Jantscher, Colombier

Text by the Architects

Situated perpendicular to the main street in a characteristic central Swiss village aligning the main thoroughfare, the Corpataux-Magnedens cultural and municipal center integrates itself into the village context and adds a new focus for its public life.

The morphology of the building is based on farmhouses and utility buildings in the area. The building has an archaic simplicity: the roof stretches down and evokes an architectural archetype through the reinterpretation of well-known silhouettes.

The monolithic building volume was treated independently of the internal division of the rooms. The interior consists of densely juxtaposed areas, an assembled sequence of interlocking, combined programs packed into the block of the building, which is structured by the openings in the façade.

The tuff stone used connects the building with its surroundings in terms of contextual integration. The stone is closely related to the identity of the village and was quarried there even until the 1950s. The reference to the cultural heritage of the location fulfills an important task of anchoring the new municipal center in its location. By uniformly using the material both for walls and the roof, the building has a monolithic character – a calm, confident presence from which a deep connection to the context is revealed without denying the building’s exceptional, confident character as a public cultural center.

La Tuffière Floor Plan
Floor plans - Community building ‘La Tuffière’ in Corpataux-Magnedens / 2b architectes

Floor Plans | © 2b architectes

Sections plans - Community building ‘La Tuffière’ in Corpataux-Magnedens / 2b architectes

Sections | © 2b architectes

La Tuffière Image Gallery
About 2b architectes

Stephanie Bender and Philippe Béboux founded 2b architectes in 1998.  They are both members of the Federation of Swiss Architects (FSA).
Other works from 2b architects 

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