Storyboard 2026

A poetic story about ecosystems and biodiversity

In 2026, the Federal Palace in Bern will become a living metaphor for Switzerland – told as a poetic story about ecosystems and biodiversity. In time with the seasons, a cycle of new beginnings, abundance, change and cold unfolds. Climatic extremes throw the façade off balance; fragments break away and roll out of the picture. Beneath the Bundesplatz, an invisible network of roots and soil life operates – quietly, cooperatively, resiliently. It symbolises the foundation of society: diversity and the interplay of many small forces. An inconspicuous caterpillar accompanies the scenes and transforms into a butterfly. Animals emerge – hedgehogs, squirrels, frogs, herons, ibex and ants – each making its own contribution. The lost parts of the building return at the end: carried together by ants, the Federal Palace is reassembled – not overgrown, but further developed.

«Rendez-vous Bundesplatz 2026» tells of a simple truth: stability comes from connection. It is not nature triumphing over architecture, but a new coexistence. The Federal Palace breathes – and with it, a country that is rediscovering its roots.

Four musical tracks are produced by takethis.ch and performed live at every show.

Intro

The Federal Palace comes to life. The Federal Palace slowly emerges from the darkness. It is subtly illuminated by a golden-yellow light. The projection is barely noticeable. Nature is deliberately not yet depicted.

Intro: Awakening

The Federal Palace comes to life. A hedgehog appears in the picture. Spring flowers sprout where it eats. A small caterpillar appears. The Federal Palace is adorned with scattered gold ornaments. The façade gradually becomes overgrown.

Change

Time-lapse. Blazing sunshine and torrential rain alternate. The building develops slight cracks. Then there is a moment of complete silence. It is as if the structure is holding its breath. Suddenly, a section of the façade breaks away. Shortly afterwards, cornices and other fragments come loose. Clouds of dust rise and settle over the architecture like a veil. Deep shadows open up beneath the crumbling elements. Some parts roll out of the frame. A cocoon becomes visible. It bursts open and a butterfly emerges.

Squirrel

Autumn: the leaves change colour and fall to the ground. The butterfly appears as a silent observer; the hedgehog also makes a brief appearance. Two squirrels leap into the picture. They dig frantically. Leaves fly about. They find a piece of building, which they leave lying there, unheeded. Then they discover a nut. They play football. A sharp shot, the leaves fall and cover the building.

Frog concert

The butterfly flies. Cut. A shallow pond in the middle of the façade comes into view. A single frog hops into the picture. It croaks. A small ripple. Then several frogs croak. With every croak, puddles form. The building is reflected in the water. A rhythmic frog concert begins. Water lilies appear. The whole scene blossoms. As the concert reaches its climax, it begins to rain heavily.

Underwater

The building is filling with water. The frogs swim away underground. The heron’s feet are visible. Its beak snaps at something and catches hold of a part of the building. Then it catches a fish. Zoom. The heron stands in the middle of a marshy landscape. The butterfly appears.

Water turns to ice

The Federal Palace is reflected on the surface of the water. The temperature drops. The reflection slowly freezes over. The camera moves closer to the ice formation. A butterfly appears to be frozen beneath the ice. Cracks become visible. The ice breaks apart and the butterfly flies away.

Alps

The ice breaks. The wind picks up. Snow swirls. Mountains rise up. An alpine snow-covered landscape takes shape. An ibex appears on a ledge. It stands firm in the storm, whilst the butterfly exudes a sense of lightness. A snow-covered section of a building lies scattered about.

Living soils

Our gaze turns beneath the earth. A cross-section of the living soil comes into view. A finely branched, neural network of points of light runs through the earth. Impulses travel from one point to the next. Networks light up, microorganisms pulsate, earthworms move through the soil. Everything is in constant communication. The roots begin to grow. A lost part of a building is visible beneath the ground.

Living soils Part 2

The soil pushes upwards. The roots connect with the tree. The soil and its roots nourish the tree. Spring returns. Various butterflies flutter about.

Butterflies

Numerous butterflies appear in close-up. Their wings cover the façade. A colourful spectacle unfolds in time with the music.

Ants

Numerous ants appear. They carry the building components that were lying around in the individual scenes into the frame and fit them neatly into the façade. They move precisely along the architectural lines. They completely rebuild the façade from scratch.

Closing and bowing

The building returns to its original state. It features delicate gold detailing and spring flowers, just as it did at the start. The hedgehog appears and says goodbye. The ants carry letters into the frame, whilst butterflies fly in to display the credits. The animals return to the stage one by one.