Operations Building in Frutingen

The infrastructure centre, with workshop and fire station, was constructed to facilitate operating the new, 36 km long Lötschberg tunnel, but its halls were initially used as staging area for the tunnel construction. The two buildings – similar in volume but of varying lengths – lie next to the tracks, united by a common base. The overhangs emphasize the linearity. Despite their size, both halls blend in well with the surroundings, in part due to the outer skin of green, multi-wall polycarbonate sheets. During the day, the structural members are barely discernible, but at night they shine through the translucent facade. Two-pinned frames stabilize the hall along the shorter axis, and frame struts resist longitudinal loads.