Via Felsenau 1

The first stage of the Via Felsenau housing cooperative is located at Spinnereiweg 17 in the Felsenau neighbourhood, which is part of the VI district of the city of Bern.

The building is designed as a shared house. Around 30 people live in six flats, each with six and a half or five rooms. Built between 1991 and 1993, the building has a large function room in the basement. The flats, which are arranged in two three-storey wings, are connected by a glass pyramid.

The building is a timber frame construction, which is filled with chopped wood and light clay. The basement, including the communal hall and staircase, is made of concrete and bricks, while the conservatory is made of steel and glass. The roofs are extensively greened.

The building is surrounded by a lot of greenery, including a pond, a barbecue area, a sauna, vegetable gardens and meadows.

More than 40 per cent of the construction costs were covered by personal contributions. The costs totalled CHF 3,350,000, against an original estimate of CHF 4,800,000.