Before pursuing a career in architecture, Raphael worked as a draftsman in steel construction, collaborating closely with engineers on large-scale projects such as halls, bridges, and roofs. This experience provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the entire process—from the conception of an idea through its design, production, and assembly. One notable contribution was to a complex, multi-level wooden staircase for the AstraZeneca project by Herzog & de Meuron in Cambridge.
After deciding to pursue architecture and complete his Matura, he continued working part-time as a draftsman across various companies. Alongside his studies at ETH Zurich, he has developed a strong interest in 3D printing, virtual reality, and computational design, aiming to advance these fields further. He completed the elective courses “360° - Reality to Virtuality” and “3D Scanning and Freeform Modelling,” where he worked with the Meta Quest 2, under the guidance of lecturer Adam Kiryk and Prof. Dillenburger, achieving top grades and presenting in the HIB building at ETH Zurich.
Together with fellow student Ilja Silvan Senn, he proposed the design for a new observation tower (Napoleon Tower Sirnach), which was subsequently published in the newspaper. He expects to receive feedback from the Sirnach municipality on the proposal’s acceptance either this year or next. |