saas sàrl
Route des Jeunes 43
CH — 1227 Genève
+41 22 300 30 04
info@saasoffice.ch
extension of the water department building
Competition
The proposal was to continue the typological logic of the existing building. But, to ensure ecological continuity on the ground (small mammals, insects and other small inhabitants of the earth), the extension was planned on posts, leaving the ground completely free. Not compact enough, they said. Not sure that an artificial crater for concrete foundations would be more ecological. But the discussion is worthwhile.
2024, Lausanne
JNS
Transformation
direct mandate, autoconstruction
with C.Gattigo
2019 – 2020, Geneva [GE]
MILEANT–BORGES
Competition
images: V.Calame, L.Bouche
2023, Genève
COLLEGE DES NOUTES
Competition
We were the only team among 40 participants to propose keeping the existing, fully functional school. And this against the (mainly economic) recommendations of the client. What do you call this? Suicide or coherence? Ask the jury.
2023, Crissier
Ecole Professionnelle Payerne
competition, 6th. prize
images: V.Calame & L.Bouche
2023, Payerne
Design for care
Medical facilities have traditionnally been visually sterile and consciously neutral.
This refurbishment of a medical practice on a very tight budget allowed (or forced?) us to negotiate with the existing structure and the technical modifications of the 1970s.
Suspended ceilings and plaster partitions have been removed, exposing the organs, veins and bones of the building. A new skin of sprayed plaster covers them like a veil, producing an inspiring surface to look at, while the practicioner is examining your body.
In the access corridor, mirrors mounted on the doors create an fascinating game of depths and counter perspectives, challenging the very classical layout and giving the patient a time to reflect before entering the medical practice itself.
with M.Meier Valentin
2015, Lausanne
has just published a little book on SAAS.
The selection of works and texts, crafted together
with graphic designer Manon Mello, illustrates
the range and the variety of interests, realisations,
studies and competitions the office has been working on.
A good opportunity to take a stand and reflect on
10 years of architectural practice.
nature morte
Moonlight
Guest Professorship at the TU WIEN:
The two semesters focussed on Heldenplatz
and the Ringstrasse – students projects and
reflections – have been published in a special issue
of the italian magazine AREA on the city of Wien.
Here the link to the full issue.
Centre Archives et Patrimoine
competition, 2nd prize
images: V.Calame & L.Bouche
2022, La Chaux-de-Fonds
ABBAYE DE ST-MAURICE
competition
with Schnetzer&Puskas
image: V.Calame & L.Bouche
2022, St-Maurice
ARG
industrial, storage, craft
direct mandate
earth from the excavation and terracota sourced from the demolition process will be integrated in the raw earth bricks composing the facade. sands and gravels for the concrete will be sourced on site, allowing production, transport and movement of materials to be reduced to a minimum.
2019 – 202x, geneva
Entwicklung Gaswerkareal und Brückenkopf West
competition
with yellowoffice & Atelier+
2021, Bern
Campus Platztor Uni St-Gall
Competition
with C. Portmann
2019-2020, St Gall
Musée International de la Réforme
transformation and renovation
with Christ&Gantenbein
2018 – 2022, Geneva [GE]
New clothing brand in Geneva having
a festive photoshoot at saas’s.
OSMAR only uses textiles sourced from donations
or from thrift shops following a strategy of re-use.
Dyes are obtained from vegetable pigments
taken from plants grown in their own garden
Plateforme 10
competition
with J. Løland
festival plaza
2021, Lausanne
saas has been invited by Archithese
to present some recent work at
the Swiss Performance 2022 event,
October 13th. 2022, Zürich
coping with urban climates
new publication by Prof.Sascha Roesler
ed. Sascha Roesler, Madlen Kobi, Lorenzo Stieger
featuring saas and C.Gattigo’s project JNS in Geneva
“Diagrams that combine weather data, indoor temperatures and thermal actions
to analyze the interactions between structural and physical adaptation to thermal conditions
in space.”
RE-Cycling Workshop
Lecture at the D-ARCH, ETH
11.04.2022, Zürich
BONJOUR ZURIQUE
Vortrag im Architektur Forum
25.03.2022, 19:00, Zürich
CAMPUS EDHEA
competition
with YellowOffice
Colette
2022, Sierre
SAAS has been invited by New Generations
to present its work at the event YEAH!
for Esch 2022 – European Capital of Culture
april 15th. 2022, Esch-sur-Alzette
Lullier
housing
2021 – 202?, Geneva [GE]
First geotechnical investigations underway
HELDENPLATZ
guest professor at the TU WIEN
2021 – 2022
Writing in Obscurity
Vortrag an dem Institut Architektur FHNW
17.11. 2021, Muttenz
Port Gitana
Competition
with L. Zelger
2020, Geneva
Chapelle
Mandat direct, suspendu
avec M. Meier Valentin
2015 – suspendu
Haïti [HT]
Villa
Mandat direct
2018 – suspendu
Camp-Perrin, Haïti [HT]
July 2021
Guillaume has been appointed
member of the FAS | BSA.
Lecture for Das Verein,
About Conditions
30.02. 2020, Basel
Consultations Grand Genève
Habiter la ville-paysage du 21e siècle.
pour la Fondation Braillard
avec BAUKUH, S. Boeri, M. Desvigne,
Villa
Mandat direct
avec M. Meier Valentin
2015 – 2019, Les Diablerets [VD]
“Rahmenplan Freiraum” Inselareal
strategisches Freiraumkonzept und Regelwerk
Studienauftrag, 1. Preis, in Erarbeitung
mit DUO, Panorama AG, Daniel Wolf, Rolf Steiner
2018 – 2030, Bern [BE]
Parc artisanal
Mandat direct
avec C.Portmann, R.Dunant
2017 – suspendu
Malgré une cérémonie en grande pompe, l’Union Européenne suspend le projet de micro-parc au vu des accusations de détournements de fonds et de corruption concernant le gouvernement du Prezidan Jovenel Moïse.
Moreau, Haïti [HT]
Transformation
Mandat direct
avec M.Meier Valentin
2016 – 2018, Correvon [VD]
Extension d’une villa
Mandat direct
avec M. Meier Valentin
2015 – 2018, Chexbres [VD]
Pavillon
Mandat direct
avec M. Meier Valentin
Photos: Roman Keller
2012 – 2015, Lullier [GE]
Genève, Ville et Champs
Concours 1er prix et réalisation
avec Romain Legros, M. Meier Valentin
2013 – 2014, Lancy [GE]
Luna Sul Bosforo
Ausstellungsobjekt
avec M. Meier Valentin
2016, Zürich [ZH]
Plateforme d’observation
Mandat direct public, S.I.G.
avec M. Meier Valentin
2011 – 2013
Photos: Roman Keller
Aigues-Vertes [GE]
saas sàrl is part of the
Disappearing Museums Project
by curator Sandino Scheidegger
view a preview of the book here
Constellations
conférence
sur l’invitation de :
Tiago P. Borges et Diogo F. Lopes
29.03.2018, FA’R Lausanne [VD]
MEHR WERK
Constellations
saas dans JAS
Still a matter of art
exposition collective
commissaires: Tiago P. Borges et Diogo F. Lopes
avec Abraha Ackermann, Conen Sigl,
Camponovo Baumgartner, Schneider Türtscher
2018, FA’R Lausanne [VD]
Absolument tout
Cycle de conférences
Invités: Marc Augé, Véronique Yersin,
Stefan Burger, Fouad Bouchoucha
avec Romain Legros, Manon Mello
2014, Lancy [GE]
Campus Pôle Santé
Concours
avec C.Portmann, Atelier +
2019, Sion [VS]
Ambassade de Suisse
Concours
avec C.Portmann
2018, Addis Abeba [ET]
Cycle d’Orientation Balexert
Concours
avec Atelier +, S. Le Dortz
2017, Vernier [GE]
Extension du siège de l’UIT
Concours, finaliste
avec Léonie Zelger
2017, Place des Nations [GE]
Projet Grand Saconnex
Concours, 3ème rang, 1ère mention
avec Atelier + , M. Meier Valentin, MS Bern,
2016, Le Grand Saconnex [GE]
Unithèque
Concours
avec M. Meier Valentin
2015, Lausanne [VD]
PAV Étoile
Concours sur présélection
Avec Baukuh, LIST, Coloco,
M. Meier Valentin, Egis
2014, La Praille [GE]
Opération Les Vernets
Concours, finaliste
avec M. Meier Valentin
2013 – 2014, Les Vernets [GE]
Ancien Manège
Concours, 2ème prix
avec M. Meier Valentin
2014, Genève [GE]
Cardinal blueFactory
Concours, 5ème prix
Cardinal et Decumanus
2012 – 2013, Fribourg [FR]
saas sàrl produces architecture since 2012. Drawn or built, this architecture means to be vital, understandable, powerful, multiple in its lecture but simple in its appearance. Based on a research about plasticity and the study of proportions, it is spatial, physical and hence, built. Deeply convinced that architecture and the city are collective works, the office draws its strength equally from the interactions with users than from the professional collaborations, local or international, that might arise.
saas sàrl has so far mainly focused on questions of transformations, that be on the urban or architectural scale. Mutating urban context, jumps in scale, structural mix and complexity, morphological and typological researches are at the core of our practice. Shifting conditions and evolution are given variables and stable companions.
saas sàrl has been lucky to work for private individuals as well as collectivities, from the transformation of a single family home to the reconversion of an oil refinery. The office has been working with entities such as CICR, SIG or BONFED. Its works have been presented at the S AM Basel, at the F’AR Lausanne and the Architektur Salon in Hamburg, among others.
Guillaume Yersin (Vevey, 1981) studied Human Medicine at the University of Geneva. After obtaining a Bachelor in 2003, he then studied architecture at the ETH Zürich and at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. After experiences at Lacaton & Vassal in Paris and AMO in Rotterdam, he obtained a MSc. in Architecture from ETHZ in 2009. In 2012, he founded his own practice saas sàrl in Geneva. In parallel, Guillaume maintains his academical engagement as intense as possible. From 2012 to 2016, he has been a teaching assistant to the Prof. Christ & Gantenbein at ETH Zürich. He has been repeatedly invited as a guest critic at EPFL, HEAD, ETHZ and HEIA-Fribourg. In 2021, Guillaume was invited as a guest professor at TU Wien. He is currently Guest Professor at the FHNW in Basel.
TEAM
PRESENT
Isabelle Cochevelou, arch. EPFL
Andrea Ishii, arch. EPFL
Guillaume Yersin, arch. ETHZ | SIA | FAS
PAST
Emile Corthay
Sebastien Le Dortz
Floriane Fol
Foucauld Huard
Mona Lecoultre
Michael Meier
Elli Moustaka