We’ve created the perfect solution in Göschenen with a forward-looking construction project.
Insights into Everyday Life at the Gotthard
Blasting, milling, excavating—the construction of the second Gotthard road tunnel demands peak performance from the miners every day. In this SRF documentary, Mona Vetsch accompanies the workers into the tunnel and experiences firsthand the demanding conditions under which they work deep inside the mountain. The report not only highlights the physical challenges of tunnel work but also showcases the people behind it and their daily lives far from their families.
A Temporary Home with a Future
To ensure that employees have a place to live, relax, and unwind during the multi-year construction project, we carried out the “Breite Göschenen” project in Göschenen. With Galenstock, Rhonestock, and Dammastock, three buildings were constructed at the northern portal of the Gotthard Tunnel to provide tunnel workers with a temporary home.
In addition to functionality, the planning focused particularly on quality of life. Warm materials, plenty of wood, and communal living areas create a pleasant atmosphere—a place of respite after a long and intense day of work in the tunnel.
During the planning phase, the focus was not only on functionality but also, in particular, on quality of life. Warm materials, plenty of wood, and communal living areas create a pleasant atmosphere—a place to unwind after a long and intense day of work in the tunnel.
Thinking Beyond the Construction Period
What makes this project special is that the buildings are not designed solely for the duration of the tunnel construction. Thanks to their modular and flexible design, they can be repurposed and adapted to new needs once construction is complete. For example, temporary accommodations can be converted into family apartments, a youth hostel, or employee housing.
In this way, we combine a concrete solution for the needs of the Gotthard construction site with a sustainable usage concept that extends far beyond the actual construction period.
