The Prime Tower in Zurich, which stood as the tallest building in Switzerland from 2011 until 2015, represents one of the major commercial developments led by the architectural firm Gigon/Guyer. Founded in 1989 by Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer, the practice has established a significant presence in Swiss urban landscape design and institutional construction.
Early Career and Education
Born in Herisau in 1959, Annette Gigon attended the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, graduating in 1984. Following her studies, she gained professional experience at Marbach & Rüegg architects in Zurich from 1984 to 1985, followed by a tenure with Herzog & de Meuron in Basel between 1985 and 1988. She maintained an independent practice from 1987 to 1989 before establishing her partnership with Mike Guyer.
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The firm gained recognition primarily through its museum commissions. Their first major project was the Kirchner Museum in Davos, constructed between 1990 and 1992. Subsequent institutional work included the Kunstmuseum Winterthur extension, completed in 1995, and the Kunstmuseum Appenzell, built between 1996 and 1998. The practice has also engaged in wider public projects, including the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne and the Archaeological Museum and Park in Kalkriese, Germany.
Commercial and Urban Development
Gigon/Guyer has balanced their museum portfolio with residential and office building designs. Significant urban contributions include the Prime Tower, planned in 2004 and executed between 2008 and 2011, and the Office Building Lagerstrasse, also known as Europaallee 21. The latter involved collaboration with architects Max Dudler and David Chipperfield as part of a broader urban reconstruction effort in Zurich. Other notable works include the Würth Haus Rorschach and the remodeling of the Löwenbräu-Areal.
Academic Contributions
Gigon has maintained a concurrent career in higher education. She served as a visiting professor at EPFL Lausanne in 2002. In 2008, she joined ETH Zurich as a guest professor, eventually transitioning to a permanent professorship in 2012. Beyond her teaching duties, she was elected as a member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin, in 2003.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Herisau, Switzerland
- Education: ETH Zurich
- Partnership Founded: 1989
- Partner: Mike Guyer
- Membership: Academy of Arts, Berlin
- Academic Position: Professor, ETH Zurich
Questions readers ask
Which major museum was the first commission for Gigon and Guyer?
The Kirchner Museum in Davos, executed between 1990 and 1992.
Where does Annette Gigon teach?
She is a professor at ETH Zurich, having joined the faculty in 2008.
Achievements
- Trained at ETH Zurich
