Atelier Anachron
Engaging with Complexity
New Swiss Architecture
An Original Idea by New Generations
alexandro fotakis architecture
Coming Soon
Atelier Tau
Coming Soon
studio jo.na
Transforming Rural Switzerland
guy barreto architects
Designing for Others, Answers Over Uniqueness
Concrete and the Woods
Building on Planet Earth
bureaumilieux
What is innovation?
apropå
A Sustainable and Frugal Practice
Massimo Frasson Architetto
Finding Clarity in Complex Projects
Studio David Klemmer
Binary Operations
Caterina Viguera Studio
Immersing in New Forms of Architecture
r2a architectes
Local Insights, Fresh Perspectives
HertelTan
Timeless Perspectives in Architecture
That Belongs
Nicolas de Courten
A Pragmatic Vision for Change
Atelier OLOS
Balance Between Nature and Built Environment
Associati
‘Cheap but intense’: The Associati Way
emixi architectes
Reconnecting Architecture with Craft
baraki architects&engineers
From Leftovers to Opportunities
DARE Architects
Material Matters: from Earth to Innovation
KOMPIS ARCHITECTES
Building from the Ground Up
Fill this form to have the opportunity to join the New Generations platform: submissions will be reviewed on a daily-basis, and the most innovative practices will have the chance to be part of the media's coverage and participate in our cultural agenda, including events, research projects, workshops, exhibitions and publications.
New Generations is a European platform that investigates the changes in the architectural profession ever since the economic crisis of 2008. We analyse the most innovative emerging practices at the European level, providing a new space for the exchange of knowledge and confrontation, theory, and production.
Since 2013, we have involved more than 3.000 practices from more than 50 countries in our cultural agenda, such as festivals, exhibitions, open calls, video-interviews, workshops, and experimental formats. We aim to offer a unique space where emerging architects could meet, exchange ideas, get inspired, and collaborate.
A project by Itinerant Office
Within the cultural agenda of New Generations
Editor in chief Gianpiero Venturini
Team Akshid Rajendran, Ilaria Donadel, Bianca Grilli
If you have any questions, need further information, if you'd like to share with us a job offer, or just want to say hello please, don't hesitate to contact us by filling up this form. If you are interested in becoming part of the New Generations network, please fill in the specific survey at the 'join the platform' section.
Designing for Others, Answers Over Uniqueness
guy barreto architects is a Swiss-based architecture studio founded in 2020 by Eliana Barreto and Bastien Guy. The practice is dedicated to creating spaces that serve communities, including housing, public facilities and workplaces, through thoughtful and context-sensitive design. At the heart of their work is the belief that architecture is not only a tool to improve daily life but also a medium for dialogue, imagination and joy. Their recent town hall project in Meyrin reflects these values, blending poetic expression with civic engagement. Their practice believe that each project begins with a story, shaped by the geography, history and identity of its site. This narrative approach allows them to design spaces that are deeply rooted and responsive. Nature, in their view, is not simply a backdrop but a vital partner in shaping atmosphere and meaning. For guy barreto architects, architecture is a practice of listening, both to place and to people. Through curiosity, care and collective imagination, they aim to build spaces that connect, inspire and quietly transform everyday life.
EB: Eliana Barreto | BG: Bastien Guy
The perception of an architect’s role
BG: First and foremost, I think Switzerland provides an easier starting point for architects. Competitions here actively encourage young architects to step forward and showcase their ideas. Additionally, the climate crisis and increasing global awareness play a significant role in shaping this outlook. People in Switzerland understand that architects can make meaningful contributions to addressing these pressing challenges, seeing architecture as a powerful tool for driving change. They often ask themselves, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’
EB: In Switzerland, the government places a strong emphasis on providing housing and public infrastructure. This focus results in a high number of public projects, creating numerous competitions and open calls. Architects have ample opportunities to engage in these initiatives.
BG: Additionally, there’s a strong sense of community. People are aware that they can actively participate in decisions affecting their neighbourhoods or cities. Architecture is widely regarded as a tool for enhancing quality of life. Moreover, there’s open and consistent communication between all stakeholders—residents, the government, and architects—which plays a crucial role in the process.
Navigating constraints with creativity
EB: The primary focus for Swiss architects today revolves around climate and energy issues. These concerns are at the heart of every competition and project, emphasising material reuse, working with existing structures, and exploring innovative or traditional techniques. Sustainability has become the defining challenge of our time, and it’s no longer something we can overlook. Much of this momentum comes from clients, particularly from public entities. In Switzerland, competitions come with strict guidelines on energy efficiency and material choices, compelling architects to deeply integrate sustainability into their designs.
BG: It's a highly technical process, yet there’s still plenty of room for experimentation. The key is to stay mindful of these challenges and continue exploring new ideas, even if the solutions aren’t perfect. The focus is on using the right materials in the right way, which demands close collaboration with engineers and other experts. Technology is advancing so rapidly that, by the time a project is completed, the methods used may already feel outdated. However, what truly matters is to keep pushing boundaries, adapting, and learning from each experience
A triptych focus: telling of a story, nature, and joy
BG: Our project for the new town hall in Meyrin embodies themes that are important for us: the construction of a narrative, the connection with nature, careful observation of the territory, and an approach guided by imagination, instinct, fantasy, and joy.
EB: Every project begins with a story to tell, rooted in the understanding of a place. By examining its history, geography, and identity, we uncover narratives that reflect the specificity of a territory.
BG: For us, nature is not just a backdrop but a vital partner in architecture.
EB: Careful observation is the foundation of storytelling in architecture. By noticing the unexpected in places, encounters, and objects, we allow overlapping images and impressions to unconsciously shape the project. This layering of experiences and visuals informs and enriches the design process.
BG: Imagination, instinct, and curiosity are essential to discovering beauty in architecture. It’s truly a process of trial and error, constant reworking, and openness to fantasy, poetry, and joy lead to spaces that are unique and vibrant. Avoiding generic solutions and embracing diversity, heterogeneity, and discontinuity ensure the architecture responds uniquely to its context.
EB: And we should never forget that, at its core, architecture relies on timeless principles: space, light, proportions, geometry, composition, materials, structure, construction, ornament, and atmosphere. These elements ground every project, ensuring it resonates with beauty, functionality, and meaning.
From debate to decision
BG: The new town hall in Meyrin has sparked some debate within the community. The color of the building, in particular, became a polemic topic, with people asking, ‘Do you like the new city hall?’ ‘What do you think of the color?’ The feedback was intense, especially on social media, and it has now led to a vote on the color of the building itself by the population. It’s an unusual situation, but one we have to deal with.
EB: The upside is that people will feel involved in the decision. The town hall has been in the planning stages for 20 or 30 years, and now locals get to choose the colour, and this decision will strengthen their connection to it.
BG: People will say, ‘I voted for this.’ And the architects will be forgotten—but that's okay. I think this kind of inclusion ultimately adds value.
EB: Even if the vote is ‘negative’ for us, it’s an opportunity to rethink the project. Sometimes the initial design isn’t the right answer, and a negative vote can prompt us to find a better solution.
Architecture beyond trends
BG: We don’t aim to stand out for the sake of being unique. Instead of asking, ‘What will make us different?’ We focus on fundamental principles that ensure the quality and longevity of our work.
EB: Our process begins with essential questions: Is the space well-designed and functional? What story do we want to tell? Are the proportions harmonious? How will this space impact its users? By addressing these considerations, we strive to create timeless, meaningful architecture that transcends trends or fashions. We embrace all tools and methods available to craft coherent, thoughtful responses to each project’s unique challenges, ensuring that our designs are both grounded and timeless.
➡️ Portrait. Ph. Nicolas Blandin
➡️ New Meyrin city hall, under construction. Img: Basile Sordet images
➡️ New Meyrin city hall, under construction. Img: Basile Sordet images
➡️ New Meyrin city hall, under construction. Image: Daisuke Hirabayashi
➡️ Housing building in Vernier, 2nd prize. Image: Jeudi Wang
➡️ Lausanne water department building. Image: Indievisual
➡️ Mervelet school group, Geneva, 2nd prize. Image : Indievisual