Haus Wilson (Wilson House)
The Wilson house was built in 1907/08 at Teufenersrasse 1-3 and is one of the most beautiful embroidery buildings in St.Gallen. A mighty round tower is the focus of a cantilevered complex of buildings.
History:
Until the 19th century, the route from St.Gallen to Teufen was a long and steep street with an accumulated altitude difference of 430 meters. Around 1860, an alternative connection for traffic with carriage was built. The route is 1.9km longer but there is only a 160m-altitude difference to overcome. In 1880, the Plattenstrasse was improved and renamed to Teufenerstrasse. Since 1913, a tram is in use and the street became an attractive address for new business buildings. With the Wilson house, the architects Curjel and Moser decorated the beginning of the Teufenerstrasse with an architectural masterpiece.
Architecture:
The building is constructed with reinforced concrete and covered with freestone. The pilasters, which are four floors high, arise on an enormous base arcade. There is a second, end-to-end fenestrate facade behind it. The six-story tower with its dominant dome grows organically out of the rounded facade and overtops the building wings. Its highest floors and roofs are relegated and therefore invisible from the street.
Present-day use:
Since 1970,the parent company of Filtex AG, and since 1945 Filtex AG itself started its operation in this architectural lighthouse. Since 1970, the building is owned by the Filtex AG. The family owned textile group is known for its innovative textiles, both in cotton and embroideries developed for the international markets.
Until the 19th century, the route from St.Gallen to Teufen was a long and steep street with an accumulated altitude difference of 430 meters. Around 1860, an alternative connection for traffic with carriage was built. The route is 1.9km longer but there is only a 160m-altitude difference to overcome. In 1880, the Plattenstrasse was improved and renamed to Teufenerstrasse. Since 1913, a tram is in use and the street became an attractive address for new business buildings. With the Wilson house, the architects Curjel and Moser decorated the beginning of the Teufenerstrasse with an architectural masterpiece.
Architecture:
The building is constructed with reinforced concrete and covered with freestone. The pilasters, which are four floors high, arise on an enormous base arcade. There is a second, end-to-end fenestrate facade behind it. The six-story tower with its dominant dome grows organically out of the rounded facade and overtops the building wings. Its highest floors and roofs are relegated and therefore invisible from the street.
Present-day use:
Since 1970,the parent company of Filtex AG, and since 1945 Filtex AG itself started its operation in this architectural lighthouse. Since 1970, the building is owned by the Filtex AG. The family owned textile group is known for its innovative textiles, both in cotton and embroideries developed for the international markets.