Sacred Landscapes of Central Switzerland Platform

^{Kloster Baldegg, Northeast-view, Architect: Marcel Breuer, © Photographer: Jonathan Ritler, 2017}

Overview

The sacred landscape and, in particular, the monasteries of Central Switzerland, are facing significant transformation. Due to demographic changes, many monasteries are looking for new paths into the future. With its involvement, the HSLU uses its interdisciplinary competence in the arena for the benefit of the region; it considers these activities to be a part of its third area of mandated activity, which is research and development. Leveraging its interdisciplinary competence, the HSLU aims to publicly discuss and create awareness for the sacred landscape as built cultural heritage, to provide guidance and support to monasteries facing change processes, and to explore the topic in its R&D and teaching activities. Two major topics have emerged. The first issue is the provision of guidance to the monasteries in their transformation processes from a building culture, material and immaterial cultural property and regional planning (landscape) perspective. The second is the development of new and innovative teaching formats derived from tradition and from the implicit knowledge of communal living in monasteries in the context of digital transformation. 

^{Kloster Baldegg, Southeast-view, Architect: Marcel Breuer, © Photographer: Jonathan Ritler, 2017}

The first joint project is concerned with the Baldegg Monastery. The new mother house of the Baldegg Sisters opened in 1972, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. Marcel Breuer, a globally leading proponent of brutalist architecture at the time, designed the building in his New York studio. The HSLU is planning to host course-related events on the subject and to publish a commemorative volume in collaboration with the monastery.

^{Kloster Baldegg, Southeast-view, Architect: Marcel Breuer, © Photographer: Jonathan Ritler, 2017}

How did architect Marcel Breuer design this sacred building for the Baldegg Sisters, and what are the principles underpinning the architectural and interior design of the complex? What are the views of contemporary architecture experts on the Baldegg Monastery? What can the Baldegg Monastery teach us about space, about inside and outside, about silence and spirituality? 

Bringing together the voices of the monastery’s inhabitants, architecture and art experts, and theologians, a new publication explores these questions and paints a multi-perspective image to mark the 50th birthday of the Baldegg Monastery. 

^{Kloster Baldegg, Southwest-view, Architect: Marcel Breuer, © Photographer: Jonathan Ritler, 2017}

Facilitated by the platform, the monasteries of Central Switzerland serve as learning ecosystems in which new and innovative teaching formats can be developed. What is the potential of monasteries and their practices and rituals in today’s world? What can students learn about the monasteries, their gardens and operations in times of change? Most notably in projects on the monastery grounds, the HSLU and the monasteries jointly develop gardening projects that explore ecology and the shaping of nature. Traditional monastic knowledge of spirituality, focus and rhythm is applied to enhance the students’ self-technique in today’s changing society and times of crisis. 

^{Kloster Baldegg, Roof (detail), Architect: Marcel Breuer, © Photographer: Jonathan Ritler, 2017}

^{Kloster Baldegg, Facade (detail), Architect: Marcel Breuer, © Photographer: Jonathan Ritler, 2017}