Behind the sheer concrete walls of this agricultural school building in eastern Switzerland is an auditorium with an exposed timber frame.

The building was designed by Swiss architect Valerio Olgiati and features a roof that pitches sharply upwards from a low-rise entrance facade to a rear wall that is more than three times as tall.

Low-level windows on opposite sides of the hall direct natural light towards a lecture stand at the front, while up to 180 students can be seated in rows behind.

We also recently featured a red concrete music studio by architect Valerio Olgiati, which you can see here.

Photography is by Javier Miguel Verme.

The description below is from Valerio Olgiati:

Plantahof Auditorium

The placement of the new auditorium creates a new central square within the overall structure of the Plantahof agriculture school. The high façade holds together the new piazza.

The inner space of the auditorium lies in half-light. Two windows facing each other define the inner space and allow for a view from the new piazza towards the axis of the Prättigau valley. A thin, dark coloured, concrete wall stretches over the pillars and beams like a tent. These elements are supported outside the building by the abutments. The structure combines in equal measure a frame and a solid construction. The result is a hybrid of pillars and walls, expressing an architectural concept and lending the building character.

The new auditorium is multifunctional and has a capacity of 130 to 180 seats. In addition to its conventional use, the new hall has the capacity to host different kinds of events such as seminars, congresses and panel discussions.

Object: auditorium
Location: Landquart, Switzerland
Competition: 1. prize, 2008
Client: Building control department of Canton Grison
Architect: Valerio Olgiati
Collaborators: Nathan Ghiringhelli (project manager office Olgiati), Daisuke Kokufuda
Construction supervisor: Georg Nickisch, Franz Bärtsch, ARGE Nickisch/Bärtsch, Chur
Structural engineer: Patrick Gartmann, Conzett Bronzini Gartmann AG, Chur
Materials: anthracite in-situ concrete, steel, chrome-nickel-steel
Begin of planning: november 2008
Begin of construction: october 2009
End of construction: october 2010
Volume: 2,240 m3 (SIA 416)
Area: 270 m2