Kast Kaeppeli Architekten

Description

The park café named «Milchbar» is located in the city park «Kleine Schanze», just a few steps from the Federal Palace. The pavilion was built in 1945 as an open refreshment hall on the Baroque city fortifications, which had been transformed into a promenade. Various extensions and renovations over the years obscured the building’s originally clear architectural language. In recent years, the successful seasonal business has evolved into a popular meeting place for a broad Bernese clientele. Due to significant structural and operational deficiencies, the restaurant with 180 seats was completely renovated and converted in the winter of 2023/2024. During this process, the original pavilion shape was emphasised once again and the unattractive extensions were removed. A new pergola, designed in the style of the original refreshment hall, creates a strong connection to the park. Typical elements from the 1940es, such as the Maggia gneiss pillars and sills, as well as the roof structure with visible rafters, were reused in the new building areas. This approach preserves embodied energy, promotes circular economy, and strengthens the identity of the place. The existing pavilion and the new pergola structure, with adjustable louvers, form a distinctive butterfly roof. Sliding windows and shutters create a permeable building envelope towards the park, while tectonically articulated sandstone profiles create a reference to the adjacent historic Bernese Old Town.