Leonhard Zeugheer and his English-inspired roof structures in Zurich

Abstract

The new architectural forms of neoclassicism, which emerged in Switzerland at the beginning of the nineteenth century, led to technological innovations in roof constructions. This paper focuses on two case studies in Zurich by Leonhard Zeugheer (1812-66), who was influenced by his study trip to England. The Neumünster church in Zurich (1836-39) and the Old Anatomy Building in Zurich (1837–42), erected almost simultaneously, make it evident that the architect was not only responsible for the architectural appearance of the buildings but also designed the roof structure down to the finest detail. The studied structures mark a break with the traditional Swiss carpentry of the baroque period and show a direct influence from the English building traditions, from the general construction system to the joining details.