The Kongresshaus in Zurich stands as a central achievement of Swiss modernism, developed by Werner M. Moser through the Haefeli Moser Steiger firm. Born in Karlsruhe in 1896, Moser emerged as a significant architectural figure who shaped the built environment in Switzerland and participated in major international urban planning initiatives throughout the mid-twentieth century.
Academic Foundation and Early Experience
Moser completed his architectural training at ETH Zurich between 1916 and 1921. He extended his education with a period at the Technical University of Stuttgart, studying under instructors Paul Bonatz, Adolf Abel, and Ernst Fiechter. His graduation project involved a market hall design in Oerlikon, supervised by his father, Karl Moser. Following his studies, he gained international experience working in Rotterdam for two years at the firm of Granpré Molière, Verhagen, and Kok. Between 1923 and 1926, he moved to the United States, where he held positions at firms including Schmidt, Garden & Martin, Drake Brothers, and the offices of Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Upon returning to Switzerland, Moser actively participated in the development of the New Modernist style. In 1928, he helped co-found the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne in La Sarraz alongside figures such as Le Corbusier and Sigfried Giedion. His early practice included designing private villas in Zurich, such as Villa Hagmann and House Moser/Guggenbühl. Additionally, he collaborated on the retirement house for the Henry and Emma Budge Foundation in Frankfurt am Main and assisted in furnishing Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's apartment building for the 1927 Werkbund exhibition in Stuttgart.
The HMS Firm and Major Projects
The establishment of the Haefeli Moser Steiger firm in 1936 marked a pivotal point in Moser's career, leading to the construction of the Kongresshaus Zurich. During the 1930s and 1940s, his portfolio grew to include the Allenmoos outdoor swimming pool and the Protestant-Reformed church centre in Altstetten. He also managed the design of the Cantonal Hospital in Zurich, a project that spanned from 1938 to 1953. His reach extended internationally by 1950, when he received the commission for the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur campus in West Bengal.
Professional Tenure and Later Life
Moser balanced his architectural practice with academic responsibilities, serving as a professor in the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich from 1958 to 1963. The University of Stuttgart awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1957. Later career highlights included the construction of the 14-story high-rise Zur Palme in collaboration with André M. Studer. Moser died in Zurich in 1970 and was interred at Fluntern Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1896, Karlsruhe
- Died: 1970, Zurich
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Primary Occupation: Architect and university teacher
- Education: ETH Zurich and Technical University of Stuttgart
- Award: Honorary doctor of the University of Stuttgart (1957)
- Religion: Reformed
- Burial Site: Fluntern Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What is the Haefeli Moser Steiger firm?
It was an architectural office founded by Werner M. Moser, Max Ernst Haefeli, and Rudolf Steiger to manage design projects, most notably the Kongresshaus in Zurich.
Did Moser work outside of Switzerland?
Yes, he worked in the United States and the Netherlands early in his career and later designed the campus for the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in India.
Achievements
- honorary doctor of the University of Stuttgart
- Trained at ETH Zurich and Technical University of Stuttgart