Hurlimann Traktoren Fabric - A study by Murtaza Mohammadi

achtung: die Schweiz HĂźrlimann Traktoren Fabrik, Wil

achtung: die Schweiz | HS15

Students: Nicole Birrer Baholz 6130 Willisau nicole.birrer@stud.hslu.ch Mirjam Inauen Rosenbergstrasse 13 9533 Kirchberg mirjam.inauen@stud.hslu.ch Alena Komarek Tannacker 7 3122 Kehrsatz alena.komarek@stud.hslu.ch Murtaza Mohammadi Steinhofstrasse 15E 6005 Luzern murtaza.mohammadi@stud.hslu.ch

Module coordinator: Prof. Dieter GeissbĂźhler Lecturers: Mascha Bisping Alberto Alessi Language guide: Prof. Irene Dietrichs Place and date: Horw, Hochschule Luzern â&#x20AC;&#x201C; T&A, 08.01.2016

fig. 1: (front page) Main entrance of the Hurliman Traktoren Fabrik.

Inhalt 1

Abstract

Introduction

Social and cultural context

HĂźrlimann and the Traktoren Fabrik

Paul Truniger â&#x20AC;&#x201C; professional biography

Wil

Site setting

Planning and structural analysis

sources

attachments

1 Abstract The Swiss modernism movement which started in the 1930s was led by some of the most prominent architects. This style gained momentum after the Swiss national exhibition in Zurich called ‘Schweizerische Landesausstellung’ or ‘Landi’ in 1939, where many of the contemporary projects were exhibited, juxtaposed against the traditional ones opposite the Zürich Lake. The main objective being to instigate in the minds of people that Swiss people are ever ready to defend its homeland (Heimat) against external threats, be it in the form of military or economy. Within architecture the exhibition also laid ground to the new style of architecture called modernism but with some reservations. Later Hans Hofmann settled this once and for all in his opening speech of 1946 in London: ‘We now view Neues Bauen from a certain distance and are able to consider its pros and cons objectively. (…..) One might say that Swiss architecture before and during the war evolved from new building to the new art of building. Now is the time for correcting, maturing and completing the principles of Neues Bauen. We want realism coupled with artistic imagination.’ Following this industrial exhibition, where many new technological innovations were displayed to boost the spiritual national defence of the country, an important development which took place was the establishment of industrial buildings due to boom in the economy. Architects like Armin Meili, Dubois, Eschenmoser and others played a foremost role in setting up a new identity for Swiss building. This paper tries to understand the social, cultural and economic setting which governed the setting up of such factories, with the help of an example – Hurlimann Traktoren Fabrik. The focus of this report being to establish the grounds which led to such a development and the resulting consequence thereafter. The construction strategy and design principle of this Traktoren Fabrik in Wil were the guiding force which led us to analyse this building and its setting.

2 Introduction The Hurlimann Traktoren Fabrik established in 1939 in Wil, was designed by one of the many notable architects of the time – Paul Truniger. Having understood the client’s demands and assessed the various architectural styles prevalent in his time, Truniger designed a modern building with flexible space planning. His construction techniques and details have been influenced by the international style architects like Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. To understand the present-day relevance of this building we visited the site and observed it up front. Herr Krüsi, from Larag AG was kind enough to give us a guided tour of the facility with an explanation about the different parts and chambers of the factory and its function. We were also introduced to many new construction practices and their significance existing during that time, which is explained in the report. The report is divided into two parts. The first part articulates the historical context of the period along with a short biography of the architect and the client. It is important to understand the background to better appreciate this late art deco style building. The second part describes the building with all its spatial planning and orientation. The drawings of the building including plans, elevations and sections also explain how the building was constructed and what its key features were. The drawings have been provided to us by the same firm which own the site today – Larag AG. They were especially helpful to visualize the different aspects of the program.

3 Social and cultural context The world witnessed a multitude of social, political, cultural and technological upheaving during the entire 20th century. The origin of many of the movements could be well traced back to the industrial revolution. The most important of all activities were political in nature, with the world seeing two gruesome world wars and liberalization of many colonial countries. In the 1930s, M. K. Gandhi started a nonviolence movement to liberate India from its colonial regime1, while Adolf Hitler was promoted to Imperial Chancellor by the president of German Reich2. In another part of the world, Japan invaded China and held control until the end of WWII in 1945 when the atomic bombs were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.3 The economic and political situation demanded newer building forms and types. As a consequence, the architecture of the time also faced major revision, not only in design but also from a production standpoint. The age demanded a faster and efficient construction process of a building. New materials like steel, glass and reinforced concrete were widely used then, with the building free from historicism. The absence of any archetype for these new building types and space requirement led to architects and planners adopting a rational approach towards construction. Buildings were now reduced to simple geometry devoid of any decoration. The emphasis on the right angle and conscious departure from symmetrical facades became increasingly recognizable. The engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role was now considered pivotal for any development. Products, which were once made manually, were now manufactured in factories with machines. This led to a standardization of material composition and components which also led to cheaper goods.

fig. 2: Aerial photo of the Hufeisensiedlung.

Residential buildings were constructed to meet the inhabitantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; individual needs, which were then considered the most important aspect when designing a building. Moreover the use of standard components, produced by the new factories, led to lower costs. This pioneering school of thought with its pragmatic approach to tackling the new demands originated from the Bauhaus. Many affordable housing projects were established which provided inexpensive houses to the masses. An example is the Hufeisensiedlung in Berlin-Britz, which was built from 1925 to 1933 by architect Bruno Traut. The project included about 2000 apartments. Today, the settlement is still a popular residential area in Berlin where the residents enjoy the 30s charm in a quiet, private neighbourhood.4 Another example of a rational planning and implementation is Gropius housing development in Dessau-Torten (1926-28). Here 1 2 3 4

frieden-gewaltfrei.de: Salzmarsch Indien wikipedia.org: Machtergreifung wikipedia.org: Zweiter Weltkrieg hufeisensiedlung-berlin.de: Berlin-Britz

he used a conveyor belt production mechanism and relocated the factory, for the production of the elements, on the building site itself.5 This understanding of architecture as a social object is, in particularly, represented within the Bauhaus School, founded in Weimar in 1919 and continued in 1925 as the School of Design in Dessau. The supporters of Bauhaus wanted a functional design that aligns the design of the building to its purpose. People’s lives would be influenced by a positive clarity and rationality. The unit of art and crafts on one hand and the interaction between art and industry, on the other hand, were important. The houses by Mies van der Rohe in Germany, like the Tugendhat house or the Weissenhofsieldung, underline this attitude. The German Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius showed these key features of architecture in the factory building, Fagus-Werk. He used the curtain-wall system for the façade, which was made of glass and steel in front of a frame construction. The Nazi dictatorship forced the teacher of the Bauhaus to immigrate to other parts of the world. Consequently, the Bauhaus teaching spread to other parts of the world. This architecture received high international recognition due to its relative simplicity and practicality.6 The growing population demanded not only infrastructure but also food. There was parallel progress made in this sector with advanced cultivation and harvesting processes as well as new production and manufacturing techniques in the food industry. At the end of the Second World War technological innovations in the United States of America lead to an increased production of agricultural items. The introduction of gasoline and electricity-powered machines, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers yielded higher yield per hectare than ever before.7

fotolegende

fig. 3: Axonometric projection of Gropius housing development in Dessau-Torten. 60

Teil 1, Verwandte Begriffe

fig. 4: Gropius‘s Fagus-Werk with the the curtain-wall system.

Use of tractor, as a farming implement, became increasingly prevalent in the United States during the 1920s, from 1930s in the Soviet Union and Europe saw the rise of tractor usage in the 1950s. In the 1930s, the automotive harvester was developed in the USA, representing the next level of mechanisation. Large farms could afford the new machines and produce higher yields whereas the small farms slowly disappeared. This lead to an increase in the average size of farms, which tripled from 1935 to 1985. Rising yields led to declining prices, and many smaller farms facing stiff competition were pushed away from the market.8 From the 1960s, mechanisation also began in less developed nations but it did not always pay off since labour was much cheaper. 5 6 7 8

Erweiterung des Funktionalismus 1930-1950 Kammerlohr. Kunst im Überblick, S. 332. usdabuyeralerts.com: Landwitrschaftsgeschichte oekosystem-erde.de: Industrielle Landwirtschaft

Walter Gropius:

4 Hürlimann and the Traktoren Fabrik The use of machines on farms started quite late in Europe, from about 1940. Although it was used even earlier but not so extensively. The tractor market comes primarily from the United States. Switzerland, with its agriculture based economy, introduced tractors quite late. There had been some existing companies manufacturing them but the major boom came in the second half of the 20th century. One such factory in the eastern part of Switzerland called ‘Hürlimann Traktor’ started its production in the 1940s with the major boom coming in the 1960s. The company was founded by Hans Hürlimann, who came from St.Gallen. Hans Hürlimann (1901-1977) was born to a farmer family. From an early age he was rather interested in steam locomotive and new technologies than in agricultural line of work. On the contrary to the general expectation of him working at his family’s farmyard, he worked as an apprentice for the mechanic firma Maschienenfabrik A. Hoegger in 1919. Later he worked on a dockyard in Hamburg, Germany for a period of 5 years. An attractive offer from his former employer A. Hoegger made him decide otherwise and he returned to Switzerland, where he worked as a lead tool designer and constructer. It turned out that Hürlimann was also a talented salesperson, so that he undertook the responsibility of the entire sales department upon his shoulders. After Hoegger’s death Hürlimann assumed greater responsibility at the firm which by then was dealing in construction and fabrication.

fig. 5: Patron Hans Hürlimann on his everday round throgh the facorty.

After visiting his countryside customers, Hürlimann noticed that an appropriate tractor for the Swiss conditions was missing. His employer’s hesitance at participating in this venture led him to develop this project on his own. The idea of a new tractor for Swiss conditions was born in January 1929. Already in August of the same year two tractors was finished by Hess‘ Factory in Wil. Despite the worldwide economic crisis Hürlimann resigned his job at Hoeggers and started his own business.

fig. 6: First delivery of the Hürlimann tractors in Wil in 1929.

fig. 7: To underline the precision of their work, the company always aligned exactly the tractors befor taking a picture of the production hall from 1939.

In 1930 HĂźrlimann rented his first own factory in Scheffelstein in Wil, where he produced the tractors in assembly. The company turned to a family enterprise, as his four brother started working for him. With fifteen employees they produced twelve tractors per day and painted in the night. The tractors were delivered in columns of about 20, to the agent Ed. Blatter & Cie in ZĂźrich. The tractors were delivered in fashion similar to the way farmers brought their cows to the alp, all in columns. For this special moment the cows are adorned and led in rows. This traditional imagery give an idea about the importance of agriculture at that time and the corollary paradigm for the structure of the company. As well in other photographs one can observe the accuracy with which the tractors have been positioned, exactly as it would have been done with cows or horses in model photographs of farms. In the beginning the sale worked well, but later it turned out that

fig. 8: Tractors aligned precisely in front of the factorybuilding 1939.

a stronger model was desired by the costumers. By March 1931 Hürlimann had come up with a new stronger and larger tractor design after a few difficult months the company had been through. As a new step into the future, an abandoned factory in Glarnistrasse was converted into a fully functioning unit. New machines and tools were installed so that most parts of the tractor could be manufactured by the company itself, thus keeping the production cost under check. After a few years the company moved completely to Glärnistrasse. Consequently Hürlimann designed newer tractors which were stronger and bigger than the previous. From 1937 the company also produced the motors for the tractors themselves. This led to an increased production activity and Hürlimann decided to build a new and larger factory at the outskirt of Wil in 1934.

fig. 9: Often the new owner of the tractors came personal to pick them up. After a short guidance through the factory they receive a brief introdction to the vehicle. For this ocation the tractors were precisely aligned in a column.

Although the period after war was not a growing market for tractors, Hürlimann went ahead with the construction of the new factory. The workers began with digging for the foundation of the new building. This anecdote reflects the company’s organizational structure, which is evidently like those of the farmlands in that time. Hans Hürlimann acted like a patron and had a free hand on the employees. Following the plans by Wil architect Truninger and Vogt, the company Scotoni of Zürich started the construction of the new building in 1938. The then biggest building in town, it had a 90 meter long and 30 meter wide hall with additional space as housing and office units. Many people in the village were sceptical about such a huge new factory and it seemed that only Hürlimann knew at that time, what else could arise in that area. The factory started operation in 1939 with over 150 employees

fig. 10: The tractor were produced serial, therefor in the productionhall were installed cranes under the beams.

fig. 11: The first (red) and the second (green)part of the factory.

working with modern equipment and tractors being manufactured almost in chord. Hürlimann never let his work lie and continued designing new models of tractors. One of the most significant change was the change to diesel motors. During WWII Hürlimann designed new tractors because of a shortage of materials which were used for the regular tractors. In this time the agriculture and the self-sufficiency was more important for Switzerland than ever. Therefore Hürlimann designed a new tractor with a motor powered by wood to bypass the shortage of gasoline and diesel. There were other numerous changes within the structure of the firm and the design of the tractor after the WWII. As Hürlimann believed in the success of his company he expanded the producing area between 1946 to 1949 in stages. Like this the firm’s dynamic nature was able to meet the requirements of the ever growing market. Up to the 1950 Hürlimann continued designing new tractor, such as the model D600, for the Swiss farmers and also the military. Hürlimann’s business began to boom and the firm even started to export tractors worldwide. In 1967 the factory was enlarged for the last time. The oldest part of the building was extended in the north while the south saw a new parking lot. The production area in the factory was extended to about 24,000 sqm with about 370 employees working there. A new method of tractor production led to an installation of a 130 meter long assembly line. The Traktoren Fabrik was one of the most modern industrial facilities of Switzerland. Its bright vast rooms with big skylights and large windows on the outer walls were quite impressive. Inside it was clean as in a hospital, with lots of huge machines of English or American origin including a

huge paint drying machine, installed in the 1950s. The firm produced more than 10,000 tractors during the first 25 years of its existence.9 The firma Hürlimann always designed stronger and more powerful tractors, as for example the model D800. Unfortunately, the production of the D800 tractors was a big loss for the business. The Swiss farms were too small for such a tractors and for the rates abroad it was too expensive. In the 1970s the decreasing sales and escalating prices led to bigger financial losses for the firm. Therefore Hürlimann signed a partnership with an Italian company, Lamborghini and from 1972 onwards Lamborghini owned Hürlimann.10 The factory in Wil was used only for assembling prefabricated parts of the tractors coming from Italy. The sale of the factory site led to an abrupt end of Hürlimann’s tractor company in the 1990s.11 Today the factory site is owned by larag AG. This firm repairs utility vehicles, mainly vans. One part of the site is rented to Migros AG. A Migros Sport X store is also located inside. The roof is rented to Fuchs Solar, Hosenruck. They have installed photovoltaic panels over the entire roof, which produces electricity for more than 280 households.12

9 forum.bauforum24.biz: Geschichte Traktorenfabrik Hürlimann 10 wilnet.ch: Traktorenfabrik Hürlimann 11 müselbach.ch: Traktorenfabrik Hürlimann 12 tagblatt.ch: Sonnenkollektoren Larag AG

5 Paul Truniger – professional biography The growing economy and political situation demanded newer infrastructure to be built to cater to the needs of the early 20th century. As we have seen earlier the demand for new buildings was followed by architects and planners developing a pragmatic solution which would best answer the program and the socio-economic conditions of the time. The demand for automobiles, for instance, led to a rise in the number of factories producing them. This in turn caused a big discussion within the architecture community about how such a building should be constructed. Similarly, Hrlimann’s need for a building where he could produce his goods was solved by a Wil architect, Paul Truniger. Paul Truniger was born on 27th January 1878 in Wil, St.Gallen. There he attended the primary, and later, secondary school. Subsequently he graduated in architecture from ETH in Zürich. At a very young age, he founded his own architectural firm and led it until some years before he died of a brief, serious illness on 25 March 1946.13 At the beginning of his career as an architect, he constructed a large number of different schoolhouses. In 1905, the Allee schoolhouse in Wil was constructed. It was built as a primary schoolhouse for boys and was later renovated in 1949/50.14 Another prestigious building was the commercial schoolhouse in St. Gallen, which he built in 1912. The building is considered an exemplary public building from the Art Nouveau period.15 Furthermore, he constructed three other schoolhouses in Wil, a hospital in Graps, Trogen and in Glarus. He also designed some bigger industrial buildings for breweries, mills and machine facto

fig. 12: Paul Truninger, 1878-1946.

fig. 13: Allee schoolhouse in Wil, 1905.

13 Schweizerische Bauzeitung, S. 294 14 www.wilnet.ch: Paul Truniger 15 www.tagblatt.ch: Schulhaus St. Gallen von Paul Truniger

ries like the HĂźrlimann Traktoren Fabrik in Wil, he built together with Fritz Vogt in 1937â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1939. Fritz Vogt was a good friend and a partner at his office. In all these projects, he showed his strong organisational skills. The projects demonstrate the responsible thoroughness in the implementation of construction projects. Paul Truniger also often worked on competition projects. He did not struggle to work with other architects and had a very cooperative character.

fig. 14: Main building of the Kantonsspital Glarus, built after plans from Paul Truninger.

During his lifetime, he held various offices and portfolios in miscellaneous organizations. From serving as a colonel in the military to a local politician and a member of the Grand Council of St.Gallen, he was the head of a district school board. He had a striking organizational talent and always worked very systematically. Justice towards his fellow men was very important to him. In Wil, he was a curator of a local museum and the theatre company. He was also in gymnastics and member of the gun club in Wil. Truniger often took great effort to solve community issues of an organizational nature, be it technical or cultural events. Out of gratitude for the services he had done in Wil, he was awarded an honorary citizenship on his 60th birthday.16

16 Schweizerische Bauzeitung, S. 294

6 Wil Hürlimann set up his Traktoren Fabrik along the outskirts of Wil in St.Gallen. Apart from being his homeland, the other reason for setting up an establishment there was due to its strong connectivity to different parts of the country. The city of Wil is located in the eastern part of Switzerland. This small town is centrally located, with a strategic connection to the west and east, and acts like a doorway for the city of Toggenburg. In 2013 the region of Bronschofen was included into Wil, and a new flag was made combining the two respective elements- the bear of Wil and the snail of Bronschofen. According to the 2014 census, the city has a total population of 25,563.

fig. 15: Flag of Wil.

Wil is typically a regional market town, with an age old trade and transport imagery. Up till now, Wil has one of the best preserved, old towns in the country. It is believed that its history begins from circa 754 with the Alemannic settlers called „villa qui dicitur Wila“. Over time, it gained importance as it was geographically well connected to different parts and important relations were established with the abbey of St. Gallen and the monastery Reichenau. After the downfall of the monastery of St. Gallen, Wil became the principal municipal community of the canton.17 When the factory was built in 1939, St. Gallen had almost 17,156 farms, which was 7% of the total farms in Switzerland - about 238,481 of them spread throughout the country. While the neighbouring canton of Thurgau, called ‘Apple Canton’ due to the high percentage of apple farms, had about 10,065 farms.18 An extensive network of roads, connecting Wil to Thurgau, Rheintal and the Toggenburg was an important factor for establishing the Traktoren Fabrik in Wil. Moreover, the major activity being farming,19 with

fig. 16: Map of the Wil and the region.

17 wilnet.ch: Der 2. Weltkrieg in Wil 18 Statistischer Atlas Schweiz, 1939 19 wilerbuerger.ch: Wil im Krieg

the farmers lacking a good industrial machine to assist them on their farms, Hürliman made a good decision to locate his factory there. WWII played a decisive role in the city’s history, with Wil turning into a rallying point for soldiers. The inhabitants had to stock up household requirements as three months later there was a rationing of vital goods.

<<3700 characters>> Hurlimann set up his tractor factory along the outskirts of Wil in St.Gallen. Apart from being his homeland, the other reason for setting up an establishment there was due to its strong connectivity to different parts of the country. The city of Wil is located in the eastern part of Switzerland. This small town is centrally located, with a strategic connection to the west and east, and acts like a doorway for the city of Toggenburg. In 2013 the region of Bronschofen was included into Wil, and a new flag was made combining the two respective elements- the bear of Wil and the snail of Bronschofen. According to the 2014 census, the city has a total population of 25,563. Wil is typically a regional market town, with an age old trade and transport imagery. Up till now, Wil has one of the best preserved, old towns in the country. It is believed that its history begins from circa 754 with the Alemannic settlers called "villa qui dicitur Wila". Over time, it gained importance as it was geographically well connected to different parts and important relations were established with the abbey of St. Gallen and the monastery Reichenau. After the downfall of the monastery of St. Gallen, Wil became the principal municipal community of the canton. 1 When the factory was built in 1939, St. Gallen had almost 17,156 farms, which was 7% of the total farms in Switzerland about 238,481 of them spread throughout the country. While the neighbouring canton of Thurgau, called ‘Apple Canton’ due to the high percentage of apple farms, had about 10,065 farms.2 An extensive network of roads, connecting Wil 200to 300m 0 100 Thurgau, Rheintal and the Toggenburg was an important factor for establishing the tractor factory in Wil. Moreover, the major activity being farming,3 with the farmers lacking a good industrial machine to assist them on their farms, Hurliman fig. made 17: Map ofdecision Wil. to locate his factory there. a good

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Information canton ofWilSt. Gallen (2013): The WWII played a about decisive rolethe in the city’s history, with turning into a rallying point for soldiers. The inhabitants had to stock up household requirements as three months later there was a rationing of vital goods. The canton has a population of 491‘699. The total area is 2’025 square kilometers, of which 950 square kilometers are agricultural land and only 200 square kilometers are settlement area.20 The agricultur today: In the chart are the data from the agriculture in the end of the <<<<<<<how to incorporate to this>>>>>>>>>> 2014. According this chart, one sees there are fewer farms in Information about the2004. canton of St. Gallen 2014 than in In the(2013) future it will be even less, because many The canton has got a population of 491'699. The total area is 2’025 square kilometers, of that are 950 square kilometers agricultural land,too only 200 square kilometers are settlement area. without a second profession. farms are small and the farmers The agricultur today: 4

region

2004

2013

2014

St. Gallen Rorschach

540 248

459 142

441 139

-18% -6%

Rheintal

401

322

317

-21%

Werdenberg

350

295

290

-17%

Sarganserland

458

390

380

-17%

See-Gaster

629

533

525

-17%

Toggenburg

1’304

1’161

1’136

-13%

509

434

436

-14%

4’339

3’736

3’664

-16%

Wil canton St. Gallen 5

change since 2004

fig. In18: production of some inareas over time. theAgricultural chart are the data from the agriculture the end of the 2014. According to this chart, one sees there is fewer

farms in 2014 than in 2004. In the future it will be even less, because lots of the farmers are too small without a second profession.

Portät Kanton St. Gallen 20 sg.ch: 1 wilnet.ch: Der 2. Weltkrieg in Wil 2 Statistischer Atlas Schweiz, 1939 3 wilerbuerger.ch: Wil im Krieg 4 sg.ch: Portät Kanton St. Gallen

5 St. Galler Bauernverband, 2014, S.7

7 Site setting The Traktoren Fabrik site is located in the south of Wil, between the train tracks and a major south heading street. Although today the factory is within the city, it was initially built much further away from the city centre and the nearby surroundings were relatively still undeveloped. The first part of the factory was built in 1939. As is evident from city plan, the factory building brought about a major change in the definition of scale just by its sheer area. The factory was Wil’s largest building by far.

fig. 19: Map of Wil 1928. The Lindengut field is stil empty.

A long wing extends in the north-south direction along the tracks. In the south, the building ends in a representative entrance. Sur1928 prisingly the entrance does not face the city but the countryside. This decision is in fact due to the planning of two apartments 0

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fig. 20: Map of Wil 1945. The first part of the Hürlimann factory stand on the Lindengut field.

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above the entrance hall. The apartments thus enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the landscape towards the south. Once they were reserved for Hürlimann himself or the factory director but have now been converted into office space. Once again it becomes clear that the organizational structure of the factory was rather like that of a Swiss farm, with Hürliman playing the lead role, rather than an industrial company type set-up prevalent in the United States at that time.

fig. 21: Map of Wil 1945. The second part of the factory is realised.

The second part of the Hürlimann Traktoren Fabrik was built in 1947, a short time after the end of the Second World War. A new 1957 production hall, of a substantial area, was added in the east of the existing structure. The then architect decided to use the same construction system as was used for the initial part. In the southeastern edge, a new entrance with track connection gives the factory a second face. The deliveries via trains are made through this side entrance. A few other industrial buildings in the neighbourhood have also sprung up along this track. 0

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The city of Wil has grown considerably with the integration of these industrial areas, in the south, within the city limits. The new highway and the nearby exit gives the site a new important meaning. Hürlimann’s vision for the factory’s future became true ultimately, proving his far sighted vision with regard to site selection. The last addition to the Traktoren Fabrik was done in 1967. The primary production hall was extended in the south. This created a semi-private forecourt in front of the building. This new southern part extension, has a similar shape as the original entrance from the 30’s but has a very different function. The original entrance of the 30’s had a representative function, however, the new building

fig. 22: Map from Wil 1972. The last part is added to the factory.

houses only training rooms and parking spaces. The two curved blocks on either side speak, just in a formal way,1972 the same language as the part from the 30‘s. 0

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8 Planning and structural analysis The Traktoren Fabrik in Wil stands testament to the modernist days of the 20th century. Built in the 1930 for Hürlimann, it was designed by Paul Truniger. Truniger, belonging to the era when modernism was quite popular, was much influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. The Hürlimann Traktoren Fabrik has a strong Art Deco character, notably the late Art Deco style of Streamline Moderne.

fig. 23: The ship SS Normandie, with its art moderne style dining hall.

fig. 24: The Gdynia Maritime University in Poland highlights the principles of art moderne style of architecture.

The first streamline architecture evolved from the work of New Objectivity artists, a movement connected to the German Werkbund, that was initiated by Hermann Muthesius. The streamlining concept was first conceived by industrial designers who stripped Art Deco design of its ornament in favor of the aerodynamic pure-line concept of motion and speed developed from scientific thinking. Cylindrical forms and long horizontal windowing may also be influenced by constructivism. As a result, an array of designers quickly ultra-modernized and streamlined the designs of everyday objects. Manufacturers of clocks, radios, telephones, cars, furniture, and many other household appliances embraced the concept.21 This style was the first to incorporate electric light into architectural structure. In the first-class dining room of the SS Normandie (1933–35), twelve tall pillars of Lalique glass, and 38 columns lit from within, illuminated the room. The Streamline Moderne was both a reaction to Art Deco and a reflection of austere economic times; sharp angles were replaced with simple, aerodynamic curves. Exotic woods and stone were replaced with cement and glass. The Hürlimann Traktoren Fabrik with its long horizontal lines, emphasized curved entrance block, plane brick façade punctuated by metal frames accentuates this style of design.

fig. 25: Entrance of the building in a curved shape (model 1:200).

21 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamline_Moderne (13th Dec 2015)

Walking along the narrow street between the train tracks and the low height factory, one does not notice the building but only occasionally. The entrance block appears quite unexpectedly towards the south end. A huge 3 storey high curved faĂ§ade greets one when he turns around the corner. In fact one realizes that there are two curved projections and not one, as he walks furthers down. This part was initially constructed as a residence for the HĂźrlimann family. A curved staircase with brass handrails leads one from the grand entrance hall below to the floor above. The residence spaces have now been converted into office blocks.

fig. 26: View from the narrow street beside the factoy.

A charming polished marble fireplace sits in the residential chamber above the entrance hall, the looks of which, reminds one of the times when it was alive with a glorious sparkling flame crackling in cold winters of the previous century. The wooden floor continues in all the rooms, the entrance to which is marked by a rustic wooden door with strong brass handles still intact. The fresh paint does in no way conceal the age of the structure. As in a ship, the front part is often luxurious while the hinter part are often functional. Trunniger had a similar concept for this factory. He positioned the residences and offices towards the front and giving the building a curved facade like a hull of a ship. The fabrication part which is the posterior part has a more functional approach with long horizontal windows for illumination and straight lines following the length of the hall giving a sense of direction within the assembly hall. The main fabrication assembly is located beyond the entrance lobby. This Naos of the Traktoren Fabrik is 90m long hall with two rows of concrete columns at a distance of 9.9m apart. Each

fig. 27: Steel profiles of window frame still exist intact.

fig. 28: The marble staircase in the entrance lobby, which leads one to the offices above.

fig. 29: A large interior space with widely spaced columns allow for flexible use of space, as can be seen here where the arcade is used as an assembling unit.

section C

section A

section C

concrete column is 6.6m away from the next one in a row. These slender support elements rise up to 4.4m where it gets wider to support the lateral bracing which also acts as a structural beam. This being an industrial building a small modification to the columns in the form of a trapezoidal projection was necessary for installing steel sections for cranes. The vertical supports rest on a step foundation about a meter deep under the ground and the ferro-concrete roof is supported by the lateral beams about 0.4m thick and slightly arched to counter the wide space. This hall was the first part of the factory, built when Hurlimann only assembled tractors. The assembly process requires usually a long hall where the vehicle can be moved along from one workstation to another and fitted with different parts. The aisles on the edge are used to store different tools and machines and houses

section B

section A

section B

fig. 30: Floor plan of the ground floor | 1:1000.

the working table while the central aisle is where the main body would be placed and moved along with different people assembling various components into the tractor. The standard dimension of the finished product measured 3.4m in length, 1.6m in width and 2.3m in height. The wide aisle of 9.9m allowed for easy handling of such tractors The most striking feature of this 30sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; building is not the grand hallway, but the use skylights to illuminate the interior space. Along with the 3.6 meter high steel framed grille style fixed window, the skylight creates a filigree of light and shadow in the interior space. The design consideration ensures adequate light for mechanics to work in the factory. The remaining 100m by 115m space is divided into smaller spaces to accommodate the different processes involved in tractor production, which emerged later during its years.

fig. 31: The structural members itself create an architectonic space.

fig. 32: Picture of the inside of model 1:200.

fig. 33: The skylight as seen from the roof, set in an extruded metal frame.

fig. 34: The main assembly chamber with its three functional aisles.

A small entrance door on the east flank leads one to a subterranean chamber, which houses the old heating system, now obsolete. This used to be coal burner to generate heat, and ultimately ventilate the factory space. A decorative brick masonry stands solid till date, behind which is the kiln and a fan to generate a continuous fire. In many parts concrete has been used especially for retaining walls to counter the great forces.

fig. 35: The decorative brickwork of the kiln below ground.

The fitting workshop is the second most thriving with activity unit, and hence is a large block towards the north. It is the part built next, during the extension phase. The main structure here is similar to the other parts, namely â&#x20AC;&#x201C; square concrete column with steel girders on top which act as a rail for cranes. The north wall has windows for lighting while the south wall is built up with bricks to avoid paint from the adjacent paint room to infiltrate into this chamber. The brick course follows the common running bond with a small gap near the concrete column to allow for expansion.

fig. 36: South facade | 1:1000.

south facade

fig. 37: North facade | 1:1000. north facade

west facade

fig. 38: East facade | 1:1000.

fig. 39: The southern side of most skylights have been covered with PV panels.

fig. 40: The interiors of the workshop are quite well lit to facilitate healthy production activity.

section C

fig. 41: Section C | 1:500.

When the company also started producing the tractor parts themselves, it became quite eminent that an extension was necessary. Since the production unit requires more workstations and lesser transportation, this new part was much shorter in length but quite wide. It accounts for more manufacturing areas with easy accessibility to different workshops. The garage was located between the production and assembly unit, so the tractor would start its journey from the south in the main hall and move north, while the different parts of the machine would be manufactured in the northern block, including painting. After the assembly, the tractor would be stored in the garage before being retrieved for delivery. The southernmost block was added recently for the need of increased storage space and repair of vehicles. After having seen the different spaces from within, it becomes quite eminent to see the building from top. A quick climb through the staircase leads one onto the roof. The sheer number of skylights, about 80 of them, fills the entire visual angle. The glass panes are set in an aluminum extruded frame forming a triangle. The skylights are aligned east-west to ensure maximum light from the north-south facing glass panes. Presently the south facing side is hidden by PV panels. Apart from light the skylight also provided for ventilation, which was essential due to the production activities in the factory.

fig. 42: Structure of the producing hall (model 1:200).

fig. 43: Frontal view to the Entrance (model 1:200).

fig. 44: Minimalist brass window frames along the hallway.

fig. 45: Wooden jamb details of art deco character are seen along the length of the gallery.

At a closer look at this section one can see that the skylight is made not by the metal frame over the roof, but by the structure of the concrete roof itself. The ceiling slab is bent upwards at regular interval forming a mouth like opening to receive sunlight. This 10cm thick ceiling slab rests on a grid of beams, one set which run along the hall with a depth of 40cm, while the other 60cm beams brace the columns. In a way this is an early example of coffer slab construction with varying beam thicknesses. fig. 46: The roof slab bending upwards to create an opening for sunlight.

With a sweeping glance across the whole hall, one begins to appreciate the simple planning involved for such a building as a Traktoren Fabrik which involves a lot of complex processes. The pragmatic approach has led to it being still occupied and be used for the same purpose of automobile manufacture, although by a different company. Then one begins to contemplate the existentiality of the building as a person who has evolved all along history, with its walls and columns resonating with the sound of age old machines, its skylight playing magic with light and shadows, its brass frames a reminiscence of the age old glory, and its huge space narrating a story.

fig. 47: The cranes are mounted on tracks set on the concrete horns.

section facade

fig. 48: Construction section | 1:50.

9 Conclusion As the modernist movement spread and became more recognized in different parts of the world, there was a radical shift in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attitude towards the new style. Even Switzerland with many modern architects like Le Corbusier, Max Frisch etc. entered this phase which gained momentum from the 1950s onwards. The Expo 64, first Swiss National Exhibition since 1939, took place on the waterfront of Lake Geneva. Some of the best architects of the country built pavilions in which the various aspects of the economy, science, culture, art and even national defence were displayed in a pleasant and tasteful way. This expo dismissed its visitors with the confidence that the decisive problems of the country were solved or that the conditions at least provided for the solution of these problems. In a way, we do find the Hurlimann factory justifying this statement. It was an old building but built with a deep insight and future planning. Its designers had a very rational approach when it was planned, and the owners shared a similar vision for the buildings long success. Hirlimann and later owners ran the company in the traditional way making sure that the workers followed orders and they honoured their welfare. The strategy met the needs of the time pragmatically and with few additions in later years, the building still serves well to its present owners. It still remains a timeless piece of architecture where the occupants and the passer-by admire and appreciate it, in many cases has been done subtly. It still remains a foremost example of its time.

sources list of references Etschmann, Walter/Hahne, Robert/Tlusty, Volker: Kammerlohr. Kunst im Überblick. München 2004, S. 332. Schweizerische Bauzeitung (Bde 127, Nr. 23). Nekrologe. Zürich 1946, S. 294. Wieser, Christoph: Erweiterung des Funktionalismus 1930-1950. Mit Beispielen aus der Schweiz und Schweden. Beispiele rationalisierten Bauens. Lausanne 2005, S. 52.

internetsources Bauforum: Hürlimann Traktoren. http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149 (19.11.2015). Brändle, Alex: Müselbach. http://www.müselbach-65a.ch/m-online/aktuell/archiv/270199.html (19.11.2015). Deutsche Wohenn: Hufeisensiedlung. http://www.hufeisensiedlung-berlin.de (20.10.2015). Fangmeyer, Johannes : Salzmarsch Indien. http://www.frieden-gewaltfrei.de/salzm.htm (12.11.2015). Kanton St. Gallen: Porträt Kanton St.Gallen. http://www.sg.ch/home/kanton_st_gallen/portrait_kanton_st/druckansicht.html (14.11.2015). Meienhofer, Zita: Soralstrom vom Larag-Dach. http://www.tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz/stgallen/wil/wv-au/ Solarstrom-vom-Larag-Dach;art266,3248802 (19.11.2015). Olbrich, Willi: Wil im Krieg (1939 - 1945). http://www.wilerbuerger.ch/index.php?id=144 (14.11.2015). Paeger, Jürgen: Industrielle Landwirtschaft. http://www.oekosystem-erde.de/html/industrielle_landwirtschaft.html (10.10.2015) Schmid, Claudia: Ein Zeitzeuge der Schulgeschichte. http://www.tagblatt.ch/ostschweiz/stgallen/ stadtstgallen/tb-st/Ein-Zeitzeuge-der-Schulgeschichte;art186,3620754 (10.10.2015). Thoma, Martin: Geschichte der Landwirtschaft. http://www.usdabuyeralerts.com/geschichte-der-landwirtschaft.html (12.11.2015) Warth, Werner: Arbeit. http://www.wilnet.ch/Default.aspx?Command=PrdtDetail&prdtName=b7f9188b-d23f-458b-b0ce-27251fcffa86 (19.11.2015). Warth, Werner: Das Alleeschulhaus. http://www.wilnet.ch/Default.aspx?Command=PrdtDetail&prdtName=57ce19fd-bd5b-419d-b2eb-2209d7da30b1 (10.10.2015). Warth, Werner: Stadtlexikon der Stadt Wil. http://www.wilnet.ch/Default.aspx?Command=PrdtDe

tail&prdtName=7eb7430c-a627-4bc3-bbf9-42a93f49cd29 (13.11.2015). Wikipedia: Machtergreifun. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machtergreifung (13.10.2015). Wikipedia: Zweiter Weltkrieg. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweiter_Weltkrieg (10.10.2015).

interviewsources interview at 02 october 2015 with Mr. KrĂźsi

list of figures fig. 2: Aerial photo of the Hufeisensiedlung. (07.12.2015) 8 http-//www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/denkmal/denkmale_in_berlin/de/ weltkulturerbe/siedlungen/britz fig. 3:

Axonometric projection of Gropius housing development in Dessau-Torten. (07.12.2015) 9 Wieser: Erweiterung des Funktionalismus 1930-1950. Mit Beispielen aus der Schweiz und Schweden. École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. 2005.

fig. 4: Gropius‘s Fagus-Werk with the the curtain-wall system. (07.12.2015) 9 http-//bauhaus-online.de/atlas/werke/fagus-werk fig. 5:

Patron Hans Hürlimann on his everday round throgh the facorty. (07.12.2015) 10 http-//bauhaus-online.de/atlas/werke/fagus-werk

fig. 6:

First delivery of the Hürlimann tractors in Wil in 1929. (16.10.2015) 10 http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149

fig. 7:

To underline the precision of their work, the company always aligned exactly the tractors befor taking a picture of the production hall from 1939. (16.10.2015) 11 http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149

fig. 8:

Tractors aligned precisely in front of the factorybuilding 1939. (16.10.2015) 11 http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149

fig. 9:

Often the new owner of the tractors came personal to pick them up. After a short guidance through the factory they receive a brief introdction to the vehicle. For this ocation the tractors were precisely aligned in a column. (16.10.2015) 12 http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149

fig. 10:

TThe tractor were produced serial, therefor in the productionhall were installed cranes under the beams. (16.10.2015) 12 http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149

fig. 11:

The first (red) and the second (green)part of the factory. (16.10.2015) 13 http://forum.bauforum24.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=14149

fig. 12:

Paul Truninger, 1878-1946. (04.10.2015) 15 Schweizerische Bauzeitschrift: Paul Truninger. Band 127/128. Heft 23. 1946.

fig. 13: Allee schoolhouse in Wil, 1905. (07.12.2015) 15 http-//www.wilnet.ch/Default.aspx?Command=PrdtDetail&prdtName=57ce 19fd-bd5b-419d-b2eb-2209d7da30b1 fig. 14:

Main building of the Kantonsspital Glarus, built after plans from Paul Truninger. (07.12.2015) 16 Schweizerische Bauzeitschrift: Ausbau der Kantonalen Krankenanstalt Glarus: Architekten P. Truniger, Wil, und H. Leuzinger, Glarus. Band 93/94. Heft 14. 1929.

fig. 15:

Flag of Wil. (07.12.2015) 17

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil_SG

fig. 16:

Map of the Wil and the region. (07.12.2015) 17 map.geo.admin.ch

fig. 17:

Map of Wil. (07.12.2015) 18 map.geo.admin.ch

fig. 18:

Agricultural production of some areas over time. (07.12.2015) 18 Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz. St. Galler Bauernverband, 2014, S.7

fig. 19:

Map of Wil 1928. The Lindengut field is stil empty. (28.20.2015) 19 map.geo.admin.ch

fig. 20:

Map of Wil 1945. The first part of the HĂźrlimann factory stand on the Lindengut field. (28.10.2015) 19 map.geo.admin.ch

fig. 21:

Map of Wil 1945. The second part of the factory is realised. (28.10.2015) 20 map.geo.admin.ch

fig. 22: Map from Wil 1972. The last part is added to the factory. (28.10.2015) 21 map.geo.admin.ch fig. 23: The ship SS Normandie, with its art moderne style dining hall. (13.12.2015) 22 http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53a0a85be4b0b7f569f5f015/t/54ca38a6e4b0c 9ce72b8cd59/1422538918740/Normandie+First+Class+Dining+Room fig. 24: The Gdynia Maritime University in Poland highlights the principles of art moderne style of architecture. (13.12.2015) 22 http://www.gdynia.pl/drukuj/7177_69182.html pictures from Murtaza Mohammadi, Mirjam Inauen and Alena Komarek fig. 1: (front page) Main entrance of the Hurliman Traktoren Fabrik. 3 ; fig. 25: Entrance of the building in a curved shape (model 1:200).22 ; fig. 29: A large interior space with widely spaced columns allow for flexible use of space, as can be seen here where the arcade is used as an assembling unit. 23 ; fig. 26: View from the narrow street beside the factoy. 23 ; fig. 27: Steel profiles of window frame still exist intact. 23 ; fig. 28: The marble staircase in the entrance lobby, which leads one to the offices above. 23 ; fig. 32: Picture of the inside of model 1:200. 25 ; fig. 34: The main assembly chamber with its three functional aisles. 25 ; fig. 31: The structural members itself create an architectonic space. 25 ; fig. 33: The skylight as seen from the roof, set in an extruded metal frame. 25 ; fig. 35: The decorative brickwork of the kiln below ground. 26 ; fig. 39: The southern side of most skylights have been covered with PV panels. 26 ; fig. 40: The interiors of the workshop are quite well lit to facilitate healthy production activity. 27 ; fig. 42: Structure of the producing hall (model 1:200). 27 ; fig. 43: Frontal view to the Entrance (model 1:200). 27 ; fig. 44: Minimalist brass window frames along the hallway. 28 ; fig. 46: The roof slab bending upwards to create an opening for sunlight. 28 ; fig. 45: Wooden jamb details of art deco character are seen along the length of the gallery. 28 ; fig. 47: The cranes are mounted on tracks set on the concrete horns. 29

plans from Nicole Birrer fig. 30: Floor plan of the ground floor | 1:1000. 24 ; fig. 36: South facade | 1:1000. 26 ; fig. 37: North facade | 1:1000. 26 ; fig. 38: East facade | 1:1000. 26 ; fig. 41: Section C | 1:500 .27 ; fig. 48: Construction section | 1:50. 29(06.12.15) 22 ; fig. 33: Section C | 1:200 (06.12.15) 23 ; fig. 34: Construction section | 1:20 (06.12.15) 25 ; fig. 39: Floor plan of the ground floor | 1:1000 (06.12.15) 27

attachments

Redlichkeitserklärung Die Verfasserinnen und Verfasser bestätigen mit ihrer Unterschrift, dass die vorliegende Arbeit selbständig, ohne fremde Hilfe und ohne Benutzung anderer als der angegebenen Hilfsmittel angefertigt wurde. Die aus fremden Quellen direkt oder indirekt übernommenen Gedanken sind als solche kenntlich gemacht. Die Arbeit liegt in gleicher oder ähnlicher Form noch nicht vor.

07.01.2016, Horw

Birrer Nicole

Inauen Mirjam

Komarek Alena

Mohammadi Murtaza

Floor Plan of the ground floor | 1:200

South facade | 1:200

outh facade

fig. 49: East facade | 1:200

west facade

North facade | 1:200

north facade

West facade | 1:200

east facade

section A

Section A | 1:200

section B Section B | 1:200

Section C | 1:200

section facade

Construction section | 1:20