The opening of Le Cèdre, the renovated headquarters of Vaudoise Insurance, marks a new chapter in the history of this iconic building.
Built in the 1950s by architect Jean Tschumi, Le Cèdre stands as a benchmark of modernist architecture in Switzerland. Conceived from the outset as a total work of art, it integrates architecture, interior architecture, furniture and art to form a coherent whole.
Following the competition, the project “Un moment charnière” developed by Itten+Brechbühl is part of a process of critical continuity, aiming to reactivate the building’s founding principles whilst adapting them to contemporary uses. The intervention restructures the interior spaces by enhancing transparency, natural light and the quality of spatial relationships, in line with evolving working practices.
The work carried out by CCHE focused on the design of the interior fit-out as part of a holistic approach, directly building on Jean Tschumi’s vision. The polychromatic concept is a contemporary reinterpretation of the original, adapted to the current needs of La Vaudoise. Tschumi initially assigned a colour to each function; however, changing uses have led to a distinction today between more neutral workspaces, finished in grey carpet, and specific areas identified by brighter hues. In keeping with the historical colour scheme, a colour is now assigned to each floor, enhancing the building’s legibility and the wayfinding system.
In its application, this concept builds on the spatial principles developed by Tschumi, particularly his work with volume and his attention to section. The colours thus unfold in an immersive way within the meeting rooms, treated as monochromatic entities integrating floors, walls and curtains. These colour sequences structure the open-plan spaces, introduce a visual rhythm to the circulation routes and contribute to the quality of use of the spaces. The use of curtains, which are more flexible than fixed installations, also allows for the adjustment of transparency levels and enhances the flexibility of the spaces, in line with new ways of working.
