Annette Gigon facts for kids
Annette Gigon is a famous Swiss architect. She was born in Herisau, Switzerland, on May 24, 1959. She is one of the people who started the architecture company Gigon/Guyer. She also taught architecture at ETH Zurich, a well-known university.
Annette Gigon's Journey in Architecture
Annette Gigon studied at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich. She finished her studies in 1984. After graduating, she worked for different architecture firms. From 1984 to 1985, she worked at Marbach & Rüegg architects in Zurich. Then, from 1985 to 1988, she worked for Herzog & de Meuron architects in Basel. She also worked on her own projects from 1987 to 1989.
Starting Gigon/Guyer Architects
In 1989, Annette Gigon started her own architecture firm. She teamed up with Mike Guyer to create Gigon/Guyer Architects in Zurich. Their company quickly became famous around the world. They were especially known for designing museums. Some of their early museum projects include the Kirchner Museum in Davos and the Museum Extension in Winterthur. They also designed the Kunstmuseum Appenzell and the Archaeological Museum and Park in Kalkriese, Germany.
Designing Different Types of Buildings
Gigon/Guyer Architects did not just design museums. They also worked on many other types of buildings. For example, they designed new and creative solutions for homes. They also built office buildings. Some of their important projects include the Prime Tower in Zurich. This building is a tall office skyscraper. They also worked on the Würth Haus Rorschach and helped redesign the Löwenbräu-Areal.
Teaching and Recognition
Annette Gigon has also shared her knowledge with others. In 2002, she was a visiting professor at EPFL Lausanne. In 2003, she became a member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin. She started teaching as a guest professor at ETH Zurich in 2008. By 2012, she became a full professor there. Annette Gigon is married and lives in Zurich.
Famous Buildings Designed by Gigon/Guyer
Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer are most famous for their museum designs. However, they have also built many other types of buildings. These include offices, public buildings, and homes.
Kirchner Museum: A First Big Project
This museum was designed and built between 1990 and 1992 in Davos, Switzerland. It was made to display the art of a German painter named Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. This museum was the first major project for Gigon and Guyer. It helped them win several awards. These awards included the “Auszeichnung guter Bauten” and the Daylight-Award.
Kunstmuseum Winterthur Extension: More Space for Art
This building was planned and built from 1993 to 1995. It added more space to the existing museum in Winterthur. This extra space was needed for many years to come. The extension also includes a car park. This project made Gigon and Guyer finalists for the Mies van der Rohe Award. This is a very important award for European architecture.
Kunstmuseum Appenzell: Honoring Local Artists
This museum is located in Appenzell, Switzerland. It was built to celebrate the paintings of two local artists, Father Carl Augusta and Carl Walter Liner. The museum was planned and built from 1996 to 1998. It was first called Museum Liner, but later its name was changed to Kunstmuseum Appenzell.
Prime Tower: A Tall Skyscraper in Zurich
The Prime Tower is a very tall building in Zurich. It was the tallest building in Switzerland from 2011 to 2015. The planning for this skyscraper started in 2004. It was built from 2008 to 2011. Today, it is used as an office building. Since the Prime Tower was built, the number of people living and working in that part of Zurich has grown a lot.
Office Building Lagerstrasse: Part of a City Project
This office building was planned in 2006 and built from 2007 to 2013. It is also known as Europaallee 21. This building is part of a big project to rebuild and improve an area in Zurich. Gigon and Guyer worked with other famous architects, Max Dudler and David Chipperfield, on this project.