The Swiss Heritage Society is dedicated to the advancement of Switzerland’s architectural heritage. Its focus is on the preservation of important landmarks, the development of the structural environment, and the promotion of good architectural design.
1905
The Swiss Heritage Society has about 27’000 members and donators. It is the umbrella organisation of 25 cantonal chapters and is available to anyone interested in the Society's objectives.
The Swiss Heritage Society pursues its goals mainly with public relations activities, through publications, technical consulting in construction projects, advisory functions in planning committees, appraisals, and legal action. The Swiss Heritage Society commends exemplary achievements by awarding prizes (Wakker Prize, Schulthess Horticultural Prize). Together with Pro Natura, the Swiss Heritage Society has been supporting the annual fundraising drive with chocolate talers for over 70 years.
The Heritage Center is housed in the magnificent Villa Patumbah in Zurich. The interactive exhibition focuses on the changes to the landscape, architectural monuments in everyday life and handcrafted details.
The second floor contains an Asian temple under an impressive glass dome. This can be visited as part of a tour. A theatre tour takes place once a month and shares stories about the park and villa. The immortal Butler Johann who has worked at the villa for 130 years leads the tour.
The Ferien im Baudenkmal foundation is a project at the interface of tourism and monument preservation. Throughout Switzerland, it takes over listed buildings that are exposed to decay and threatened by demolition, restores them gently and gives them a secure future as holiday homes. What makes it special is that it makes the carefully restored objects accessible to the public at reasonable prices and, through the active experience of building culture, places the emphasis on conveying and raising awareness of historical buildings.
The Society’s magazine «Heimatschutz/Patrimoine» is published quarterly and apart from the latest news always features a keynote topic.
Swiss Heritage Society
Schweizer Heimatschutz
Villa Patumbah
Zollikerstrasse 128
CH 8008 Zurich
Switzerland
T +41 44 254 57 00
info(at)heimatschutz.ch
Information on current activities can be found on the Swiss Heritage Society’s German, French or Italian websites.