Association
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Portrait
An umbrella organization for the international representation of professional interests
Purpose and tasks
The Swiss Conference of Architects (CSA) is the umbrella organisation of the three Swiss associations of architects, the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA) - Professional Group for Architecture (BGA), the Federation of Swiss Architects (FSA) and the Federation of Freelance Swiss Architects (FSAI). In addition, the Foundation of Swiss Registers (REG) is an observing member of the CSA.
The CSA represents the common interests of the three associations of architects in the context of international relations, in particular through the CSA's membership of the two international organisations of architects, the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE). In addition, the CSA is a place for exchange and coordination of cooperation between the three associations of architects at national level.
The CSA is a joint body of the three member associations. It does not pursue any independent policy and acts solely in the interests and according to the guidelines of its members.
History
The CSA emerged in 1992 as the umbrella organisation of Swiss architects' associations from the then Swiss section of the International Union of Architects (UIA) in order to represent Swiss architects in an international context. In 1993 the CSA became an observing member and in 2003 a full member with exceptional status of the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE).
In the international context, the CSA was particularly concerned with the issues of competition and public procurement, the political and content-related framework conditions of education and professional practice, as well as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and freedom of movement. The international commitment gave the Swiss architects' associations an information advantage in the professional environment, which is increasingly networked through international agreements, especially in the national implementation of the internationally regulated public procurement system (BöB and VöB). Representatives of the CSA have repeatedly occupied important positions in the UIA and the ACE. This has enabled the Swiss profession to exert particular influence on various issues.
In 1998, the CSA organised an international conference on "architecture et mondialisation" to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UIA in Lausanne. In 2013, the CSA organised the general assembly of the ACE in Biel on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its foundation with a conference on the topic of urban development processes.
The CSA also discusses national topics and current affairs and coordinates related projects. The CSA also develops independent projects on behalf of its member associations. For example, in 2003 - 2005, the CSA, under the leadership of the FSA, developed a proposal for a law on architects, and in 2016 - 2018 it developed the "Professional Profile of Architects".
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Members
The federation of the three national associations of architects
FSA
The Federation of Swiss Architects (FSA) unites over 950 members, of which just under 800 are full members. Full members are "as a rule, self-employed architects who have made noteworthy achievements in the fields of architecture, urban development and spatial planning".
There are also associate members: personalities whose work is closely connected with architecture, urban development and spatial planning. The selection process of its members is based on personal vocation; as a condition for admission, the quality of the professional work is in the foreground.
Federation of Swiss Architects (FSA)
FSAI
Since its foundation in 1935, the FSAI has represented the interests of self-employed architects. The FSAI is the only patronal professional association in Switzerland that is exclusively committed to architects in the areas of professionalism and ethics.
The fsai promotes the social role of self-employed architects as bearers of economic and social responsibility. The association strives to preserve the freedom of development in the profession - in creative and economic terms. As a professional association, the FSAI demands collegiality, solidarity and loyalty from its members. As a rule, members of the FSAI are in a position to provide all architectural services and to advise on the use and performance of third parties.
Verband freierwerbender Schweizer Architekten (FSAI)
SIA
The Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA) is the authoritative professional association for qualified professionals in the fields of construction, technology and the environment. With its more than sixteen thousand members from the engineering and architecture sectors, the SIA forms a highly competent, interdisciplinary network with the central aim of shaping Switzerland as a living space that is fit for the future and of high quality.
The SIA and its members stand for building culture, quality and competence. The SIA is known for its important body of standards. It develops, maintains and publishes numerous standards, regulations, guidelines, recommendations and documentation that are authoritative for the Swiss construction industry.
Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA)
SIA - BGA
With 7500 members, the professional group Architecture BGA is the largest of the four professional groups of the SIA.
The BGA represents the profession-specific interests of architects within the SIA. Through the representation of the professional associations A&K, BSLA, FSU, maneco and VSI.ASAI. in the professional group, the BGA works in an interdisciplinary manner and links architecture with spatial planning, interior and landscape architecture as well as construction economics, thus expanding the breadth of the discussion.
It influences the professional environment by means of its own projects as well as by means of statements on the creation of laws, standards and regulations.
Schweizerischer Ingenieur- und Architektenverein (SIA) – Berufsgruppe Architektur (BGA)
REG
The Foundation of the Swiss Registers of Professionals in Engineering, Architecture and the Environment (REG) maintains the registers of professionals in the fields of engineering, architecture and technology, as well as those related to them.
It facilitates the professional advancement of professionals in the technical and architectural professions as well as self-taught professionals and promotes continuing education.
REG is an observing member of the CSA.
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General Assembly
Supreme body of the umbrella association
The General Assembly is the supreme body of the CSA and decides on all relevant business. In particular, it is responsible for approving and amending the statutes, admitting and excluding members and approving the budgets and annual accounts. In addition, the General Assembly elects the Board of the CSA and its President. As a rule, the General Assembly meets once per quarter.
As a rule, it consists of the President of each member association and one delegate and the President of the CSA. Each member association has two votes. Resolutions are passed democratically by simple majority.
Representatives of the member associations in the General Assembly
FSA
Ludovica Molo, Dipl. Arch. ETH BSA, President BSA
Martin Klopfenstein, Architect BSA SWB SIAFSAI
Juho Nyberg, Dipl. Arch. ETH SIA FSAI, President FSAI
Mathias Stähli, Dipl. Arch. ETH FSAI SIA, former President FSAISIA
Carole Pont Bourdin, Dipl. Arch. EPFL/SIA/BSA/FSU,
Member of the Board SIA
Philippe Jorisch, M.Sc. Arch. ETH, President BGA SIA
Astrid Dettling, arch. dipl. EPF/SIA, Vice President BGA SIAREG (observing member)
Walter Hunziker, Dipl. Arch. ETH BSA SIA FSAI, Member of the REG Executive Committee
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Executive Board
Management of the CSA
The Executive Bord represents the CSA and its members vis-à-vis the outside world, in particular in the context of international relations, and is responsible for the management of the association. It passes its resolutions democratically by simple majority.
Doris Wälchli
Architecte EPFL FAS SIA
President of the CSADoris Wälchli, born in 1963, comes from Madiswil in the canton of Bern. She graduated in architecture from the ETH Lausanne in 1988 and began her professional career with J.-L. Mateo in Barcelona in the same year. In 1989 she received a scholarship from the Canton of Berne for a stay at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris. She then worked for Daniele Marques & Bruno Zurkirchen in Lucerne before founding the architectural firm Brauen Wälchli together with Ueli Brauen in 1990.
From 1990 Doris Wälchli was an assistant to Prof. Inès Lamunière at the ETH Lausanne Zurich and then an assistant to guest lecturer J.-L. Mateo at the ETH Zurich. She taught as a guest lecturer at ETH Zurich from 1998 to 2000, at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000 and at the Accademia di Mendrisio from 2004 to 2005. In 2013 she taught at the Catholic University in Louvain-la-Neuve.
Throughout her career, Doris Wälchli has been actively involved in various committees of the professional associations BSA and SIA.
In 2005, she took over the presidency of the Bern City Planning Commission for four years and was a member of the City Planning Commission in Lucerne from 2012 to 2016. From 2008 to 2017, she served as chair of the Geisendorf Foundation for Architecture. Since 2017, she has been president of the board of trustees of CUB, fondation pour la culture du bâti.CV and functions within the CSA (German)
Céline Guibat
Architect EPFL FAS SIA
Board memberCéline Guibat was born in Lausanne in 1977. After graduating from the EPFL Lausanne in 2002 under Prof. Inès Lamunière, she worked abroad for several years. She has been working as an independent architect since 2005 and founded the architecture firm Mijong architecture design with Carole Pont in 2012. This was followed by the projects "Walk With Me" and "Vallée Archipel", projects to raise awareness and communicate our built environment.
The office motto "We love to build" encapsulates the care with which she pursues her professional commitment. She also shares her passion in an academic setting, in teaching and research, as well as through her involvement in various associations and foundations that promote mediation. Her teaching activities, alternately at BFH, ETH, ZHAW and EPFL, are wide-ranging, from planning to construction and project management.
Céline Guibat has been active on the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Architecture Museum S AM and on the Board of Trustees of the ESS SPA - Swiss Cultural Exhibition Biel since 2019. The built environment as a backdrop to our living space is the preferred focus of her activities. From 2016 to 2018, she was also a member or president of the jury for the Swiss Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Céline Guibat has been a CSA board member since 2023.
CV and functions within the CSA (German)
Reto Gmür
Architekt EPFL BSA SIA
Board MemberReto Gmür, born in 1976, comes from Riehen in the canton of Basel-Stadt. After a year of practice in Paris with Dominique Perrault, he received his diploma with distinction from Prof. Patrick Berger at the ETH Lausanne in 2002 and then began working in his mother Silvia Gmür's architectural office in Basel.
In 2005 he founded the new office Silvia Gmür Reto Gmür Architekten. The office focuses on healthcare architecture and sustainability. Reto Gmür has been a lecturer at the University of Stuttgart in the Healthcare Real Estate Management course since 2017.
He is involved in the professional associations BSA and SIA, including on the topics of competitions. From 2017 - 2023, he served as president of the des "Beobachter für Wettbewerbe und Ausschreibungen (Nordwestschweiz)", an association for monitoring the quality of public competitions and study contracts. He is active as a jury member in fair competitions.
CV and functions within the CSA (German)
Miyuki Inoue
Dipl. Arch. TUS/ Master EPFL/ SIAETH FAS SIA OTIA
Board MemberFrancesco Buzzi
Arch. dipl. ETH FAS SIA OTIA
Board MemberExtraordinary Members of the Executive Board
Regina Gonthier
Dipl. Arch. ETH SIA BSA FSAI
Extraordinary Board MemberAfter studying Liberal Art and obtaining a BA in Art and Philosophy in the USA, Regina Gonthier studied architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) and graduated in 1977 under Dolf Schnebli. Since 1986 she has run the architectural practice Gonthier Architekten in Berne together with Alain Gonthier and often works as a jury member in architectural competitions. In addition to her work as an architect, she was an assistant and later a guest lecturer at the ETHZ as well as an examination expert at the Engineering School Biel and the Burgdorf University of Applied Sciences. She was a member of the Baukollegium Zurich and president of the Stadtbildkommission Biel as well as the Cantonal Commission for Architecture and Urban Planning of the Canton of Fribourg. She was also active in the SIA Competition Commission (1992-2012). As Vice-President, she chaired the revision of the Rules for Competitions SIA142 and the new Rules for Study Contracts SIA 143.
She is a founding member of the CSA, which she chaired 2006 - 2023. She has been repeatedly elected as a member of the International Union of Architects (UIA) World Council. As Switzerland's representative in the UIA and the ACE, she has been particularly involved in the topic of competition and procurement. She has been the co-director of the UIA's International Competition Commission since 2015 and a member of the UIA World Council since 2021.
In 2023, Regina Gonthier stepped down as President and member of the Board of the CSA. Due to her functions in the UIA, she is an extraordinary member of the Board in accordance with the CSA Statutes.
CV and functions within the CSA (German)
Former Board Members
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Statutes
The CSA has been organised in the form of an independent association since 2003. The principle of parity among the member associations and the anchoring of the foreign representation at presidential level are fundamental.
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Annual reports
2015 - 2024