For over 50 years, apprentices have been competing in model competitions at the vocational school in Wetzikon. It is therefore not surprising that the majority of apprentices follow this tradition.
Once the framework conditions were known, the design and planning of the models began. Each apprentice designs, plans and creates their own model of a roof construction specifically for this competition. The regulations leave it open as to whether the execution planning is done conventionally by hand or with a CAD program. However, the compulsory part, a hip rafter with four associated shafts, must be completed by hand by all participants.
At the beginning of the 3rd year of training, the apprentices were able to learn a CAD program within 30 lessons. Three out of five classes were taught the SEMA design software by Jürg Hugener. Apprentices were able to take additional courses in January and February on a voluntary basis. The focus of the trainees in the companies is particularly on carpentry skills. However, planning a roof construction like the one in the competition also requires a certain amount of routine in the field of CAD. With the necessary know-how, the trainee carpenters then set about planning, designing and building their models.
Once the models had been submitted, the team of experts consisting of nine contractors and project managers from timber construction companies in the canton of Zurich, led by chairman Peter Schönenberger, turned their attention to assessing and evaluating them. The evaluation of the models includes assessments of various criteria such as work planning, execution, craftsmanship, timber list, originality and scope of work.
The trainees put a lot of sweat, passion and great ideas into their models. Before the award ceremony, Traugott Pfister, head of the specialist group at the GBW, praised the good performance in the model competition. Erwin Peter, President of the Zurich Cantonal Association, also motivated the apprentices for their final year of training.
This time, 72 models were submitted. For half of the models, the floor plan or rafter position was drawn using a CAD program. These included all three winning models. In addition to Xeno Bösch in third place and second-placed Fadri Landolt, Adrian Hugener from Frischknecht Holzbau-Team AG took first place with a futuristic-looking model. The winner of the competition organized by Holzbau Schweiz of the Zurich Cantonal Association received a large toolbox as a non-cash prize in addition to fame and glory.
