Workshop and smithy of the former horse infirmary

About the building

On Papiermühlestrasse, the broad avenue of plane trees in the Allmend-Murifeld district, the east side is lined with the buildings in which the army once kept, cared for and trained horses. In 1873 the canton of Bern decided by popular vote to move its military establishments out of the city onto the Beundenfeld. In 1875 Bern was given the federal cavalry training ground, and in 1890 the cantonal building office put up the three-winged horse infirmary (no. 40) east of the street, with stables and an operating house for the central remount depot.

Later came further stables, two large riding halls of 1927 and 1940 and, in 1931, a so-called standard arsenal. The workshop and smithy of 1922 closes the complex of the later Federal Military Horse Institute (EMPFA) to the south. It was designed and commissioned by the federal buildings directorate. The inventory’s single sheet lists it as Papiermühlestrasse 28, the group sheet as Mingerstrasse 3A.

The long, rendered building is strongly articulated. The workshop sits under a massive quarter-hipped roof with a Ründi, the arched boarding under the eaves typical of Bern; attached to it is the smithy and shoeing room with its own hipped roof. The gable ends have many windows. On the south-east side a cross ridge with a Ründi and rows of windows dominates, on the north-west side a polygonal stair tower with a curved, steep spire between two dormers. Plaster ornaments above the windows and carefully designed doors, including those of the smithy, enrich the façades.

The heritage office sees the building as a Bernese variant of late Heimatstil and a deliberate contrast to the sober stable halls next to it. Towards the street it shapes the avenue together with the riding hall (no. 32) and the brick building of the horse infirmary (no. 40). It is worthy of protection and listed in the federal inventory of military buildings (HOBIM). Look out for the stair tower with its curved spire.

Researched and summarised by Bärn Kit. Sources: Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Papiermühlestrasse 28 · Wikidata: Q138764337 · Bauinventar der Stadt Bern: Strukturgruppe Kaserne Ost