Christian Kerez

Christian Georg Kerez (born 27 May 1962) is a Swiss architect, architectural photographer and professor.

Early life and education Kerez was born 27 May 1962 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, one of two children, to Christoph Kerez (1927-2019) and Gisela (née Bromberg). His father was the president of the Swiss gemstone industry association. He is distantly related to James Kerez-Paravicini, who aided founding the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company. Until 1991 he completed his studies in architecture at ETH Zurich.

Career Christian Kerez studied architecture at ETH Zurich until 1991 and then worked with Rudolf Fontana in Domat/Ems. Kerez started out with architectural photography and founded his architecture office in Zurich in 1993. Christian Kerez has been working at the ETH since 2001, first as a visiting professor, from 2003 as an assistant professor and since 2009 as a professor; he invited Raphael Zuber, Hermann Czech, Arno Brandlhuber, Bijoy Jain, Anne Holtrop, Go Hasegawa, Smiljan Radic and Junya Ishigami. Between 2012 and 2013 he held the Kenzo Tange Chair at Harvard University Graduate School of Design in Cambridge. At the 15th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale Kerez designed the Swiss Pavilion. thumb

Work

Kerez has photographed for Valerio Olgiati, Herzog & de Meuron, Bearth & Deplazes and Miroslav Šik.

At the office of Rudolf Fontana 1992–1993: Oberrealta Chapel, Cazis 1992–1993: Mortuary, Bonaduz

Own buildings

1998–2000: Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz with Morger & Degelo, Basel 1999–2003: Apartment building on Forsterstrasse, Zurich 1999–2003: Schoolhouse Breiten, Eschenbach (SG) 2002–2009: Schoolhouse Leutschenbach, Zurich with landscape architect Maurus Schifferli 2004–2007: House with one wall, Zurich 2006–2013: House with a Lakeview, Thalwil 2006–2014: Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw competition 1st prize 2008: Holcim Competence Center, Holderbank competition 1st prize 2009–2014: House with a missing column', Zurich 2009–2013: Porto Seguro Housing Development Project, Paraisopolis, São Paulo 2013–2018: Office Building, Lyon Confluence Îlot A3, Lyon 2013–2021: House Tomio Okamura, Prague 2020 – 2026 Textilmuseum, competition, 1st prize, ongoing, St. Gallen 2021: The Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2020, Dubai (delayed one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic)

Awards and distinctions (selection)

1999: Swiss Art Award 2005: Betonpreis 05, 1st prize for the apartment building on Forsterstrasse, Zurich 2011: European Steel Design Award, for school building Leutschenbach Zurich 2012: Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects 2012: Kenzo Tange Chair for Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge 2014: recognition - Daylight-Award for school building Leutschenbach Zurich 2015: Holcim Awards Europe 2014, Honorable Mention to energy-efficient office building in Holderbank, Switzerland