Portfolio - Special Edition Switzerland

9 Special Edition Switzerland EPIC EDIFICES For some seriously eye-popping buildings, check out the works of Mario Botta. The whimsical Fiore di Pietra in Monte Generoso, which houses two restaurants and a gallery, greatly resembles a stone flower. And in Mogno, the striking Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista is a black-and- white striped cylindrical structure – highly unusual for a church! In Zurich, be sure to check out the iconic Guardian Angel sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle, which presides over the main hall of the central train station. The angel in question – a voluptuous 11m-tall figure decked out in a colourful dress and a pair of golden wings – stands for self-confidence and liberation. Other notable works of public art include the Meret Oppenheim Tower Fountain in Bern, a soaring concrete column carpeted in moss and wild grass in the summer and frozen over with icicles in the winter. Then there’s also the Broken Chair sculpture in Geneva – which, as its name suggests, is an enormous 5.5-tonne wooden sculpture of a chair with a broken leg. The brainchild of the carpenter Louis Genève is intended to remind visiting politicians of the plight of landmine victims worldwide. SPOT THE SMURFS’ HOMES While you won’t see any blue- skinned creatures running around, this whimsical housing complex pays homage to the eponymous comic franchise in other ways. The buildings’ curved walls and bold facades are inspired by the colourful mushroom houses in which the Smurfs live – and they sure make for a great photo op! ADMIRE PUBLIC ART Some of Switzerland’s best works of art are not behind closed doors but out on the streets. Basel has a thriving urban art scene, which is best explored on a walking tour. Artstübli is a gallery that conducts street art tours on request; these include the Basel Line Tour, which will take you along a railway line adorned with graffiti by renowned artists such as Smash137 and Swet.