Libeskind turns a retail box into a lightning bolt — shopping as controlled disorientation.
Shopping mall in the city of Bern, Switzerland.
Featured in Daniel Libeskind's definitive monograph, Breaking Ground: An Immigrant's Journey.
Visitor Guide
Use it like a mini urban hike: start at the station side, cut through the interior diagonals, and end at the water/thermal leisure components if you have time.
From the approach near the rail/tram stop to capture the jagged massing; late afternoon for sharper shadow cuts on the façade.
Public complex; no ticket for the building itself. Individual attractions (cinema, water park/spa) are ticketed and have their own hours.
The most Libeskind moment is not the exterior — it’s the way the interior vectors force you to navigate by instinct instead of signage.
1–2 hours
Design & Structure
Diagram-driven design: angular vectors and sectional cuts developed through digital modeling and value-engineered into repeatable structural bays.
Concrete/steel structure with sharp envelope surfaces; materials are chosen to keep edges crisp and shadows legible.
Irregular geometry resolved into a rational frame; the engineering challenge is transferring ‘chaos’ into buildable load paths.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by Daniel Libeskind
View all →
Denver Art Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
Bundeswehr Military History Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Felix Nussbaum Haus
Jewish Museum Berlin
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre?+
Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre was designed by Daniel Libeskind and completed in 2008. It is located in Bern, Switzerland.
Where is Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre located?+
Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre is located in Bern, Switzerland. Its coordinates are 46.9450°, 7.3740°.
When was Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre built?+
Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre was completed in 2008. It was designed by Daniel Libeskind.
Can I visit Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre?+
Westside Shopping and Leisure Centre is a real building in Bern that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.