Tilla Theus: The Swiss Architect Who Reinvents Historic Spaces

Swiss architect Tilla Theus, a 1969 ETH Zürich graduate, has spent five decades blending warmth and tactile materials in both historic and new builds. Recently awarded the Prix Meret Oppenheim, she is known for transforming medieval townhouses into the Widder Hotel in Zürich. Theus emphasizes design emerging from function, not decoration, and advocates for adaptable, sustainable architecture. She recalls her early career as a woman in a male-dominated field, including repainting a restroom sign to protest the lack of women's toilets. Her practice uses physical models to understand proportions, and she stresses the importance of client collaboration over anonymous committees.