Bern modern

Since the late 1920s, a restrained modernity has made its way into urban development in Bern. Residential buildings emerged that have a presence without being intrusive. They exude a certain nobility and urbanity that was lost after 1940. This architecture plays an important role in the cityscape but has never been thoroughly examined.

The long-immigrated Bernese author Markus Jakob traces over thirty houses while strolling through Breitenrain, Kirchenfeld, Mattenhof, Länggasse, and elsewhere. Photographers Thomas Telley and Adrian Scheidegger accompany him with unconventional shots. The book offers a loving yet critical look at the current shape of the city. As a compendium of residential buildings from the 1930s, it complements existing documentation on more well-known examples of modernism in Bern, such as the works of Otto Salvisberg or Hans Brechbühler, which are only briefly touched upon here. The authors contribute to this multifaceted image of Bernese neighborhoods, which are authentic and character-rich districts. Ultimately, the aim is to draw lessons and perspectives for the future of urban planning from this exploration.