26 Hours in Switzerland: Precision, Panoramas and a Pinch of Paprika
This spring, Adam, one of MWB Architecture’s Directors and Lead Architects, swapped the Manchester drizzle for crisp Swiss air on a whirlwind 26 hour visit to Switzerland. Hosted by Clear Living, the carefully planned trip packed in world class engineering, lakeside architecture, hands on cooking and cultural inspiration. Efficient, inspiring and unmistakably Swiss.
Precision at Sky Frame, Near Zurich
The journey began just outside Zurich at the Sky Frame showroom and manufacturing facility, a must visit for anyone who appreciates clean lines and precision engineering.
Sky Frame is renowned for its frameless sliding door systems, and seeing them in person was a reminder of what sets exceptional products apart. Ultra slim sightlines, seamless thresholds and expansive glazing panels are all delivered with the precision you would expect from a country famous for watchmaking.
Touring the factory gave Adam the opportunity to see how each component is assembled and quality checked. The finished product may appear simple, but the craftsmanship behind it is anything but.
For architects, visits like these are invaluable. Understanding how a product is made, along with its capabilities and limitations, allows us to specify it with confidence and detail it correctly.
From glazing precision to interior design, the evening continued at Exceptis in Weinfelden. The showroom featured an impressive range of materials, finishes and interior products that sparked plenty of ideas for future projects.
Rather than a traditional showroom reception, the evening centred around a collaborative cooking experience. Architects, suppliers and designers worked together to prepare dinner, discovering that detailing skills do not always translate into knife skills.
The result was a relaxed evening of great food, generous hospitality and valuable conversations. It was a refreshing way to build relationships and share ideas.
The following morning brought blue skies and a visit to a stunning property overlooking Lake Rheinsee, where Sky Frame systems were showcased exactly as intended.
Expansive sliding glass panels framed uninterrupted views across the water, blurring the boundary between inside and out. Seeing the product in its finished setting reinforced how thoughtful specification and careful detailing help create architecture that feels effortless.
The setting certainly helped too.
Back in Zurich, the group reflected over lunch on the previous day’s experiences and discussed how the insights gained could influence current and future projects.
Before heading to the airport, Adam also managed to visit the FIFA Museum. Its immersive exhibitions demonstrated how thoughtful design can shape storytelling and create memorable visitor experiences, making it a worthwhile cultural stop.
By early evening, Adam was back on a flight to Manchester, just 26 hours after arriving.
It may have been a short trip, but it delivered lasting value. Experiences like these strengthen our understanding of the products we specify, build industry relationships and ultimately help us design better spaces for our clients.
Our thanks to Clear Living for hosting such a well organised and enjoyable experience.
Swiss precision, excellent company and a reminder that great design, much like great food, is always best experienced first hand.
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