haratori
Nahoko Hara and Zeno Vogel founded office haratori as an architecture firm in Zurich in 2004. Mercè Portell joined in 2011 and managed the office together with Zeno Vogel from 2016 to 2023. Office haratori has continuously dealt with projects along two main axes: firstly urban developments and transformations, secondly housing. The questions of dealing with the existing are in the foreground: transformation, preservation, restoration not only for the sake of sustainability, but also out of cultural conviction. An environment in which design moves between reference, expression, construction and production.
Living finds expression in small conversions: a sleeping chamber in the old tower house, the conversion of a hay barn into an alpine loft in Mathon (Prix Lignum 2018, International "Domus Restoration and Preservation" Prize, 2020). Larger residential projects include the Zurich Freilager with 270 apartments (Gute Bauten Kanton Zürich 2019), the facade of the Zölly residential tower in Zurich (Hase in Silber 2014, Betonpreis 17), the 100% prefabricated residential towers in Eindhoven (14 storeys) and last at the August Allebéplein in Amsterdam (20 storeys). The urban planning contributions are made in studies, test planning and masterplans: among others the Quartierplan Kleinbruggen in Chur, 2015 (450 apartments) or the Testplanung Leutschenbach-Mitte, 2010 (basis of the masterplan for the high-rise area). With the design of the entrance of the Park Hyatt Zurich (a house by Meili, Peter Architekten with Zeno Vogel, 2004) or with the flagship store Bucherer at Bahnhofstrasse Zurich, office haratori placed ambitious and representative urban projects in the public space.
Since 2007 office haratori has been working closely with office winhov from Amsterdam, in some of the mentioned projects, in friendship, researching the relevance of each one's experiences, the stranger-view in different contexts.
Zeno Vogel
Zeno Vogel worked and learned for six years in the office of Peter Zumthor in Haldenstein, ending with the construction of Haus Gugalun, Versam (1993). After a year of studies at the BiA, Berlage institute Amsterdam, he collaborated for 10 years with Meili, Peter Architekten, Zurich. Common projects with Marcel Meili and Markus Peter are, among others, the Swiss School for the Wood Industry, Biel (1999) and the Park Hyatt Hotel, Zurich (2004). In 2004 he founded his own architectural practice in Zurich together with Nahoko Hara. The collaboration with Jan Peter Wingender at BiA has resulted in an ongoing conversation and, since 2007, numerous joint projects with office winhov. Since 2016, Zeno Vogel has been running office haratori together with Mercè Portell.
Born in Basel, grew up in Village-Neuf (F), Baccalauréat C
Apprenticeship as draftsman in the practice of Peter Zumthor, Haldenstein.
Collaboration in the pratice of Peter Zumthor, Haldenstein:
• Evangelische Altersiedlung Masans, Chur
• Haus Gugalun, Versam (Projectleading Architect)
Studies at the BiA, Berlage institute Amsterdam
among others with Hermann Hertzberger, Kenneth Frampton and Tony Fretton
Architect at Meili, Peter Architekten AG, Zurich,
from 1999 on, member of the directory board,
from 2001 on partner responsible for numerous projects and competitions.
Common projects „Marcel Meili, Markus Peter with Zeno Vogel“:
• Swiss School for the Wood Industry, Biel, 1994 – 1999
• Park Hyatt Hotel, Zurich, 2000 – 2004
Independent architect in Zurich, practice with Nahoko Hara
Swiss Art Award
Architect Register A
Architect Register A/SIA
office haratori GmbH, together with Nahoko Hara and Juerg Spaar
office haratori GmbH, together with Mercè Portell
Member of the Federation of Swiss Architects (FSA)