Jardin Métropole

In Biel-Mett, a nine-storey building near the Bärenplatz roundabout helps organize a heterogeneous urban landscape shaped by transport, infrastructure, and varying architectural styles. Positioned between the historic village center and the train station, it acts as a new landmark and eastern gateway to the city, referencing Biel’s tradition of expressive vertical buildings.

The structure is composed of three interlocked volumes arranged around a light-filled staircase. Its design responds sensitively to context: a rotunda on the ground floor connects with the square and Poststrasse, while the upper floors contain 16 apartments with views of the Jura and the village. Unit sizes vary, offering options for different household types. Facing heavy traffic to the south, the building steps back and places commercial uses on the lower levels. Toward the north, it defines the edge of the village and leads to a new green space with public amenities.

Rooted in Biel’s architectural lineage, the design references the expressive forms of historic buildings like the Volkshaus and Kongresshaus, but updates them through contemporary material and environmental thinking. Shared roof gardens with planter boxes, loggias, and terraces support social and ecological goals. Greened spaces double as acoustic buffers and integrate rainwater retention systems.

The façade combines vertical solar panels and profiled ceramic tiles, creating depth, rhythm, and shifting reflections. Materials are chosen for their durability and precision: ceramic cladding is fixed to a textile substructure, backed by recycled glass insulation. The design reinterprets historical textures while ensuring high thermal performance.

Energy systems are integrated throughout the architecture. Geothermal probes and a ventilation system minimize energy loss, while 400 m² of photovoltaic modules on all façades maximize energy capture. With a 55 kWp capacity and smart inverters, most of the energy is self-consumed, and the rest is fed into the grid. Custom modules from Megasol—durable and easy to maintain—turn the building into a vertical solar power station, marrying form and function for a sustainable urban future.