Born in Olsberg (AG), Bürgi was introduced to the idea of using relief models in the classroom by Kettiger, a school inspector in Basel, during a teacher training course in the late fall of 1843. Bürgi worked as a teacher in Allschwil from 1849, and from 1857 also as a municipal clerk. Together with his son he produced several relief models, which he also presented at international exhibitions. In addition to the few surviving works, the large relief model of the Bernese Oberland (4.22 x 3.70 m), which was shown at the national exhibition in Zurich in 1883 but has now disappeared, deserves special mention.

Terrain models made by Bürgi (details on Swiss Relief Catalogue)

• Gotthard region, 1870
• Canton Basel
• Vosges, southern part (Haut-Rhin)
• Vosges, northern part (Bas-Rhin)

[1] This article bases on Mair, Toni. Grieder, Susanne. Das Landschaftsrelief – Symbiose von Wissenschaft und Kunsthandwerk. Mit Schweizer Reliefkatalog. Verlag hier+jetzt. Baden, Schweiz. 2006. S.156.