Summer holidays: traveling to discover architecture

DATE

31.07.2025

It’s not just about moving from one place to another, but about sharpening your gaze—experiencing the spaces we’ve studied so many times in books or seen in images. A well-planned journey allows you to understand the works in their context, perceive them with all your senses, and draw direct connections between theory and built reality.

A highly recommended route is the area along the border of Switzerland, Germany, and France, where an extraordinary density of top-tier contemporary architecture can be found. Cities like Basel, Weil am Rhein, and Ronchamp offer a unique blend of innovation, history, and architectural excellence. From the iconic Novartis Campus, with buildings designed by architects such as Herzog & de Meuron and SANAA, to the Vitra Campus—an open-air museum featuring works by Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, Álvaro Siza, and Frank Gehry.

The trip is enriched by a must-see stop in Ronchamp, home to the famous chapel of Notre-Dame du Haut designed by Le Corbusier. It’s a true architectural pilgrimage site, charged with spirituality and spatial intensity. Visiting museums such as the Kunstsammlung Basel—one of Europe’s most important collections of modern art—or exploring contemporary buildings like the Jazz Campus by Buol & Zünd adds even more depth to the experience.

Traveling to see architecture isn’t just about seeing buildings; it’s about walking through the spaces that have transformed the way we design, learning from construction details, the landscape, and the surrounding culture. This kind of experience offers a deeper understanding of the discipline and can become a powerful source of inspiration for students and professionals in architecture, design, or other creative fields. A summer dedicated to this is, without a doubt, an investment in knowledge and sensitivity.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

Back to News