Monolight

After one of the most devastating fires in Switzerland, the fire of Glarus in 1861, also the reconstruction of the goods shed of Glarus was tackled as part of an ensemble of four buildings. The construction of four wings was common at the time. It included the main building, the wagon-shed, the locomotive shed and goods shed. The long construction always was positioned parallel between rail and road. The rail cars implied the height of the ramps, which facilitated the handling of goods on both sides of the building. The goods shed was a place for expeditions. Everyone could give and pick up his property. Therefore, these goods sheds were important for the local economy and a hub to the outside world. Through reorganization of the cargo onto the road, the goods sheds lost their importance.

In the context of the history and prospects for the future, how must one treat a historical substance with its infrastructure in order to do justice to it? What areas should one focus on? What priorities emerge from this perception? And what kind of structural intervention shall it be?

Across through the baggage claim area lies the Monolight. Its entrance is located in the vestibule of the baggage claim, basically outdoor. The premises with with its filigree structure are a bridge for space and time. A room within a room in which three small openings allow specific observation of smells and perspectives. The focus triad combines past, present and future tense. These openings function both as a camera obscure projecting daily life into its body and work as openings to observe the exterior spaces with its ramps and the body of the large interior space.

Is the Monolight the last forgotten and remaining cargo? By consciously leaving out other light sources, the perception is sharpened and strengthened when entering the narrow and dark corridor. As a static moment, the Monolight absorbs action and visitors movements, creating an autonomous space and surprises the visitors by their loss of orientation. The visitor moves in the structure as at the times the cargo did from one side to the other. A consistent analysis of the location is generated.

Glarus, 24 Mai 2014

Images M. Gubler, G. Papathanasiou

Kollaboration M. Gubler, E. Zgraggen

G. Papathanasiou, L. Lenherr

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