On February 10, 2011, the Raiffeisen Bank opened a new branch for private investment counselling at a well-frequented location in Zürich. Working together with Glaeser Baden AG, ARGE Drexler Guinand Jauslin Architects AG and NAU in Zurich, Rosskopf & Partner AG implemented designs for wall panelling made of solid surface material HI-MACS® in the office consultation areas.

The elegant wall panelling, conceived by the design office Rippmann Oesterle Knaus, skilfully separates the individual areas of the Raiffeisen Bank. It sufficiently blocks the view while allowing a maximum amount of natural light into the area.

The wall cladding itself appears at first glance like a random array of triangular cut-outs. Only viewing it from a distance and a second look reveals that it displays the portraits of important people from this well-known district in Zurich – Arnold Boeklin, Gottfried Semper and also Johanna Spyri are shown in these portraits.

With this project, Rosskopf & Partner AG was presented with the immense challenge of ensuring that every single one of even the very smallest of cut-outs in the solid surface material HI-MACS® must be made in exactly the right place in precisely the correct size. Only in this manner could it ultimately produce the intended effect of the wall panelling.

Additionally, the production of 2D and 3D elements required a significant amount of dexterity, because absolute precision of fit had to be achieved.