textocreators, the language architects

While a great many young children dream of becoming architects when they grow up (thanks, LEGO®), only the most skilled actually turn it into a career. Those with a talent for interlocking words rather than bricks join textocreativ, built to succeed on a love of languages and penmanship, with quality as the only cement.

An agency with solid foundations

The very mention of national powerhouses such as Le Corbusier, Bernard Tschumi, Mario Botta, Peter Zumthor, Burckhardt, Diener & Diener and Herzog & de Meuron immediately conjures up images dominated by stone, concrete, timber, light and shade, and above all, the genius of those who dreamed up buildings destined to make their mark on our landscapes forever. The success of these architectural masters is built on audacity – the same audacity that inspired some of us in the 1990s to venture into the world of translation with our toolbox of trusty dictionaries, paper glossaries, floppy disks, bulky computers and no small amount of brainpower. Although those days are a thing of the past, we are still committed to building our own bridges between Switzerland’s different linguistic regions.

As well as this constructive approach, we also share the same architectural practice of constant dialogue with the client to be able to deliver a final product that meets every expectation. Whether we are translating product specs, sales brochures, tender documents, press releases, communication with local authorities or administrative procedures, our texts are always well structured and finely crafted with impeccable phrasing. With the same careful attention, we regularly work with Burckhardt to translate content for their website, architectural project presentations, and internal and external communications.

With language that evolves as swiftly as the changing trends, codes, techniques, standards and certifications that regulate it, the world of architecture has recently seen the emergence of a myriad of concepts, including ecodesign, bioarchitecture, vernacular, biophilic design, reuse and low-carbon architecture – vocabulary that reflects the scale of the sustainability movement. Not to mention the influence of Instagram, bringing fresh visibility to construction projects and new communication opportunities for architectural firms – another domain where our expertise enables firms to convey their message in a compelling way.

As Winston Churchill so aptly put it, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” At textocreativ, we shape the future of translation with pinpoint precision, supported by our terminology databases – our very own built heritage infused with heart, soul and a sense of humanity that no artificial intelligence or algorithm could ever replicate. And no, our values aren’t just… a façade!