BEMotion Bern

Trade fairs are places of commerce, encounter, and public exchange. They draw on the tradition of the market hall, whose spaces are defined by utility, robustness, and flexibility. The project for the new BEmotion Base Bern is based on these principles and develops, from simple, additive, and serial components, a unified complex that combines pragmatic clarity with urban presence. The result is a representative face to the city, unfolding equally on all sides and bringing the individual parts together into a coherent whole.

The complex is oriented towards the new Messeplatz and opens with a two-sided, welcoming entrance. Together with the congress section, the generous foyer forms the building’s address, usable for events of all sizes. The elongated volume consolidates varying scales into a controlled mass and, through a setback on the north side, creates an open forecourt. At the same time, the connection to the Allmend and the Zirkusplatz remains clearly legible. The elevated congress wing provides an urban conclusion and harmonizes the eaves heights. In this way, an ensemble emerges that clarifies its surroundings and naturally unites the three main functions.

The multifunctional hall, with 6,500 square meters of column-free space, is based on a clear structural grid. Galleries along the sides relieve the main structure and provide additional usable areas as well as access to stands, catering, and the large congress hall. The hall is flexibly divisible, with three separate delivery gates and a clear separation of goods and visitor flows. A service corridor allows supply and disposal during operations. Cloakrooms and ancillary rooms are directly connected to the foyer, ensuring the smooth running of parallel events.

The congress area is accessed via the foyer, which is flooded with daylight and features generous staircases. On the upper floor, the large hall conveys a spacious atmosphere enhanced by layered structural systems. Mobile partitions allow flexible subdivision, while the adjoining terrace and breakout rooms provide versatile possibilities. Dedicated pause zones and service areas ensure that a wide variety of operational scenarios can be accommodated.

The foyer itself forms the heart of the complex: a high, light-filled space that allows for multiple layouts and separates visitor groups. Cloakrooms and sanitary facilities are directly connected and can be activated as needed.

Acoustics are tailored to high-performance requirements. The hall is equipped with sound absorbers, double-skin façades, and acoustic lobbies, while the foyer and congress areas are acoustically decoupled. This enables the parallel operation of different events.

Efficiency also guides the operation. Generous, column-free spaces, robust surfaces, and clear circulation routes enable rapid set-up and dismantling. Visitor and goods flows are strictly separated, while technical installations are protected and integrated in a usage-neutral way. A coordinated door and fire-protection concept, together with a carefully designed orientation and signage system, further support operational flexibility.

Building services are modular and designed for easy maintenance. Each main functional unit has its own technical center, allowing spaces to be supplied and operated independently. The hall is equipped with roof-integrated ventilation and smoke extraction systems, which are zone-controlled. Media points in ceilings and floors provide flexible supply. Special attention is given to rapid heating, while the foyer and congress areas each have their own ventilation systems. Sustainability is ensured through energy-efficient systems, effective lighting, and the use of alternative heating technologies.

The BEmotion Base Bern thus combines architectural clarity with technical robustness and flexibility. It relies on simple, usage-neutral structures that are both representative and future-oriented, becoming a central and versatile component in the urban fabric.

Client: Bernexpo Groupe

Planning: Rossetti+Wyss Architekten, Lüchinger Meyer Partner AG, Classen Haustechnik GmbH, Engeler Freiraumplanung AG