A century-old brick manufacturing facility in Kriens, Switzerland, has been transformed into a contemporary residential complex, marking the third major renovation in the building's long history. Local newspapers have described the Alte Ziegelei (Old Brickworks) as one of the most unique structures in the area, having served various functions since its original construction in 1895.

The building, originally erected as a brick kiln facility, had most recently housed a community of creative professionals who lived and worked within its walls. The structure had developed a charmingly improvised character over the decades, though its aging condition prompted property owner Schmid Immobilien to commission a comprehensive renovation. The project was recently completed by Seiler Linhart Architekten, based in Lucerne and Sarnen.

According to the cantonal building inventory, the structure represents a rare example of the conversion of an industrial production facility into residential use, making it of significant architectural and social historical interest. The building underwent its first residential conversion in 1925, when architect Alfons Kuoni adapted the multi-story factory for housing purposes. The original structure consisted of a tall central core building with a roof lantern and three lower annexes. During the 1925 renovation, a Hourdis ceiling made of hollow clay plates was installed in the former two-story machine hall on the ground floor. A second residential conversion of the east wing followed in 1950.

The latest renovation has significantly altered the building's previously chaotic and relaxed character, though Seiler Linhart Architekten, who won a selective design competition in 2019, state that their project aims to capture the essence of the evolved historical monument. The architects made the bold decision to remove all three annexes that had been added over time. In their place, they installed prefabricated concrete frameworks as balconies along the east and west facades.

The renovation preserved the building's essential structural elements, including the rough-hewn timber skeleton and the load-bearing half-timbered exterior walls with brick infill panels. The facade of the central core building draws inspiration from its historical predecessor, maintaining the original window divisions and pilasters on the main south-facing elevation. The exterior plaster received partial restoration, while the shutters were replaced with new green versions. A four-inch insulation layer was added to the interior surfaces.

Inside, Seiler Linhart Architekten undertook a comprehensive contemporary reorganization of the interior spaces. The previous floor plans had been quite convoluted, particularly affecting the central light court that extended from the first floor up to the roof lantern. A wall that had been added later divided this space in half, though it already served as a communal meeting point. The renovation opened up this central atrium, removing the dividing wall and extending it down to the ground floor, creating a unified circulation space that serves all 18 residential units, which range from 2.5 to 4.5 rooms.

One of the most intriguing features of the housing units are not only the carefully staged wooden elements but also the windows facing the light court, which existed in the original structure. Through these design choices, the architects aimed to reconnect with the communicative qualities that defined the old Alte Ziegelei. Whether this approach will successfully restore what one former resident described as the 'brick factory spirit' remains to be seen given the building's new refined aesthetic.

The building continues to include shared spaces on the first floor, similar to the previous arrangement. In addition to laundry and drying rooms, there is a large communal room that can be accessed directly from outside via the existing external staircase. Beneath this prominent architectural feature, the new main entrance to the ground floor has been created, which is once again designated for studio spaces.

All residential units have now been rented, though according to local press reports, only one household from the former creative community has returned to live in the renovated building. The total cost of the renovation project, covering a gross floor area of 1,825 square meters, amounts to approximately 12.85 million euros (BKP 19). The construction costs per square meter total around 1,050 euros. The landscape design for the surrounding outdoor areas was handled by Freiraumarchitektur of Lucerne, completing the comprehensive transformation of this historically significant Swiss industrial building into modern residential housing.