Boltshauser Architekten AG is an architecture practice based in Zurich, Switzerland, founded by Roger Boltshauser in 1996. The office is recognized for its investigations into materiality and construction techniques, coupled with a focus on environmental considerations and craftsmanship. Boltshauser, a graduate of ETH Zurich, combined early teaching and research in architectural theory with establishing the firm, and he remains active in academia through various lectureships and professorships at institutions including ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne.
With approximately 75 employees, the office’s work ranges from housing and offices to public and educational buildings. Their approach is characterized by the use of natural materials like rammed earth and brick, often applied in innovative or experimental ways. Notable projects include the Kiln Tower for the Brickworks Museum in Cham, an award-winning vertical structure that functions as an exhibition space, kiln, and viewing platform. The Rauch House, built with Martin Rauch and completed in 2008, is cited as a landmark in contemporary earth construction and influential in the practice’s trajectory.
Recent developments include a residential building in Kilchberg utilizing recycled bricks and earth blocks, addressing questions of sustainability in high-end housing. The office’s portfolio also features the Krämeracker Primary School, the Ozeanium for Basel Zoo, and the GLC Research Building for ETH Zurich. Boltshauser Architekten AG’s work is regularly the subject of academic publications, exhibitions, and critical debate within the architectural community.