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Second place for the team Stücheli Architekten, huggenbergerfries Architekten, Balliana Schubert Landschaftsarchitekten.
In Rapperswil-Jona, the demand for age-appropriate living spaces and care/support facilities continues to rise. The city and municipality Rapperswil-Jona plan to implement the new nursing home at the Schachen site by 2022, in order to provide a high-quality offer in good time. In March 2017, the city put out for tender a project competition for the planning of 168 nursing places and 60 apartments with expansion options. The team Stücheli Architekten, huggenbergerfries Architekten, Balliana Schubert Landschaftsarchitekten achieved second place among the total of 70 applications and 12 participants.
Instead of the specified positioning of the nursing home in the north, the project proposes a ‘castling’ development, with the small-scale retirement apartments in the north and the nursing home at the transition to the southern, large-scale industrial area. The jury was impressed by the ‘precise urban accent’ accomplished by this measure, as well as by the ‘spatially and functionally well-organised’ nursing home.
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The Secondary School Sandgruben, opened in 2016, was honoured with the Schweizer Schulpreis (Swiss school award) for its pedagogical concept, which uses heterogeneity to enrich the learning experience.
Since the call for tenders in 2012, it was clear that the Secondary School Sandgruben would be no ordinary school. The initiative seemed to be steered by a team of idealists. In the preface to the call for tenders, classroom planner Stephan Hug called for an ‘intensive dialogue between the partners involved in the project’. To support this, he quoted architect Alfred Roth, who traced the ‘poor development of the school construction question’ back to ‘the lack of cooperation between education professionals, architects and public authorities’. This quote from Roth is now nearly 60 years old, and the team of idealists, who can better be described as visionaries, actually succeeded in using this ‘intensive dialogue’ to create new pedagogical approaches.
About 600 pupils now attend the Secondary School Sandgruben. They are divided into three grades and assigned to three performance levels, yet share a ‘learning studio’ that brings together pupils of different ages and abilities. Now, the Secondary School Sandgruben has been named one of six recipients of the Schweizer Schulpreis from a group of 24 applicants. The award recognises institutions that contribute to ‘schools learning from schools’. 2017 is the third year the Schulpreis has been awarded, after 2013 and 2015. Who knows; perhaps the programme for 2019 will be, ‘Schools, public authorities and architects learning from schools, public authorities and architects’? Find more information and films (German only) about the winning schools at: www.schweizerschulpreis.ch
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The Lufthansa Group’s ‘most modern training centre’ will soon be located in Switzerland. On 14 December 2017, the first stone was laid for the new Lufthansa Aviation Training Center ‘TC2020’.
Pilots and flight attendants who train in Switzerland currently go to the training centre operated by Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland AG (formerly Swiss Aviation Training) in Zurich – Kloten. It is the most prominent flight training centre in the country, comprising a cluster of buildings that has grown over the decades and houses cutting-edge technology, but does not meet the requirements needed for an attractive training location. The new Lufthansa Aviation Training Center TC2020 will unite the entire training infrastructure under one roof for the first time.
Spread across an area of 40m by 120m, the planned new building will feature, in addition to training rooms and offices, five aircraft fuselage mockups, spaces for true-to-life emergency and evacuation exercises and eight stands for flight simulators. The highly sensitive technology of the 15 to 20 tonne simulators creates particularly exacting demands in terms of planning, and so the new structure has been developed around them as the ‘heart’ of the facility. Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland has invested around CHF 50 million into the construction, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019.
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2nd place for the Stücheli Architekten team.
The Mürtschen-/Oberseestrasse plot is situated at a central, low-traffic location in Rapperswil-Jona. Due to the extensive renovation needs and low construction density, the Building Insurance Institute of Canton St. Gallen (GVA) is planning on replacing the current residential complex from the 1940s with a new one. In order to implement an ‘approvable, future-oriented complex’, the GVA made an open call for tenders in May for a project competition.
Out of 54 submitted projects, the proposal by the Stücheli Architekten team was awarded the second prize. Stücheli received particular praise for the ‘differentiation for different groups of residents’ and the accordingly ‘harmonious overall complex’. You can find the jury's report and further details on the competition office’s website.
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In November 2016, architectural models created by Stücheli Architekten were carried off to Regensdorf. What happened to them there can now be seen on SRF1 in the new TV series Wilder.
The first episode of the new SRF series Wilder was broadcast on 7 November 2017, and has already been widely acclaimed by critics. ‘Fargo in the Bernese Oberland’ (Tages-Anzeiger) takes place in the fictional mountain village of Oberwies, where an Egyptian investor wants to build a controversial luxury hotel. The investigations revolve around his missing daughter, a murder and a dark secret from the past. However, most of the praise has gone to the actors’ achievements rather than the plot. Newcomer Sarah Spale, who plays investigator Rosa Wilder, has particularly delighted critics, while the other characters have more of a supporting role.
But it should at least be mentioned that Stücheli Architekten also makes its big-screen debut in Wilder – if the models rather than the architects themselves. In November 2016, they were carried off to a panelled room in Regensdorf to act as the Bernese architecture firm. You can see for yourself how convincing they are in episodes two (14 November 2017) and five (5 December 2017). At least one thing is certain: Unlike some actors, they won’t fail upon their accents.
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The new stairway entrance to the train station from Europaallee opened to the public on 28 September 2017. With foot traffic of about 100,000 people daily, it is one of the most important interfaces between Zurich’s main railway station and the city.
After eight years of construction, the opening of the Europaallee entrance completes the cross-city link. It forms the southern end of Passage Sihlquai and increases the width from 8 m to 17 m, making the stairway the widest entrance to the main railway station. There are now two extensive stone staircases, three escalators and a lift that lead from Passage Sihlquai to Europaplatz, where 120,000 people are expected to pass through on a daily basis after the opening in year 2020.
Aside from the operational and technical requirements of the structure, the planners also had to take into account design considerations to accommodate the various adjoining spaces, which in future should be viewed as part of an overall unit. In addition to the commercial spaces along the passage, these include an underground bicycle parking area with room for 1,800 bikes and Europaplatz. Located in the immediate vicinity of construction plot B, the entrance is closely linked with the office building that is also being planned by Stücheli Architekten in terms of load transfer and cabling.
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By October 2018, the New Stock Exchange building in Zurich will be converted into a head office of EF Education First. Construction work began in August.
The history of the exchange building was marked by change from the very outset. Opened in 1992, the trading floors were rendered obsolete by digitalisation just four years later. Shortly thereafter, the shopping centre floor that was connected to the Selnau underground railway station was converted into office space due to a dearth of shoppers. Following further operational and structural changes, most recently in 2010, SIX Swiss Exchange ultimately left the iconic building in favour of a conventional office building in June 2017.
With some 800 workstations and additional infrastructure, the new owner, EF Education First, plans to make the listed building an integral part of its European operations. The focus of the architectural interventions will be to sharpen the lines of the striking building structure and foster orientation and communication. In addition to a cafeteria, employees will enjoy a spacious 1,500 m² rooftop garden.
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After around a decade of planning and two years of construction work, AgroVet-Strickhof is now set to be opened with a launch party for the general public on 2 and 3 September.
The name AgroVet-Strickhof stands for the three partners: the canton of Zurich (Strickhof), ETH Zurich (agricultural sciences) and the University of Zurich (Vetsuisse), and their vision of a joint education and research centre – the first of its kind in the world. Under the motto ‘from feed to food’, farmers, agronomists and vets will now work together at the Lindau site in Zurich to carry out research into a sustainable global food supply. The consolidation of the three previous sites exploits operational synergies, but is primarily intended to ensure the practical relevance of the research.
Designed by Itten+Brechbühl and realised by Stücheli Architects, the facilities comprise the metabolism centre with state-of-the-art measurement technology, the sheds with space for 128 cows and a milking robot, the office and laboratory building with 50 workspaces, the feed store, and the Forum, in which around 300 spectators can attend live demonstrations. On 2 and 3 September 2017 from 9:30 am to 5 pm, all facilities will be open to the general public. Further information can be found here (German only): www.aln.zh.ch
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After a four-year planning period, renovation work on the Zentrum Witikon have begun on 10 July 2017.
Built from 1968-70, Zentrum Witikon was one of the first Swiss shopping centres and was a pioneer of the centre concept. Unlike covered shopping malls built to the American model, farmer Karl Ochsner planned to turn his former cow pasture into a village square. The visionary construction was honoured shortly after its completion with prestigious awards, including the city of Zurich’s Good Building Award, for its structuralist architecture and compelling corporate design. By the time it was added to the city’s Monument Protection Inventory in 2013, however, it had become dilapidated and disfigured by alterations from the 1980s.
The renovation under the new owner Migros aims to largely preserve or reconstruct the original appearance. Where a replacement or extension is needed, it will be developed from the original – for example the characteristic concrete blocks, which are no longer available in this shape. The renovation schedule has been adapted to the needs of the tenants and businesses, and will be conducted in six stages. The new opening is planned for late spring 2019.
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2nd place for the project team with Stücheli Architects.
The St. Gallen Ortsbürgergemeinde (municipal office) is planning ‘an unmixed housing complex featuring superior architecture, spatial freedom and a high quality of life’ on the Waldacker site in the western part of the city. The development shall also allow the promotion of innovative residential construction. An open study commission for bidding consortiums was organised for the project.
With its recommendation for a large-scale development with staggered
apartment layouts team Stücheli Architects reached the final round. The jury praised the design for the precise positioning of the buildings, which creates a ‘special and new location’, and the excellent range and above-average supply of flexible residential units, which promises a high return on investment.
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On 7 April 2017, escalators for the new stairway entrance on Europaallee were supplied. The three high-performance escalators will likely see more commuter traffic each day than any other escalator in Switzerland.
Stücheli Architekten's contribution to the entrance of the new Europaallee district is quickly taking shape. While the tenth and thus top floor of the high rise building on construction site B will be completed over the Easter holiday, on 7 April 2017, ‘the largest escalator in Switzerland’ (Tages-Anzeiger, 7 April 2017) was added to the Europaallee stairway.
In future, it is expected that each day around 100,000 commuters will use the new stairway, which is being expanded from 10 metres to 17 metres. In addition to the three escalators, travellers will also be able to access two conventional staircases and an elevator.
The new stairway is set to open on 25 September 2017, while construction on site B will continue to the end of 2018.
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On 3 April 2017, renovation work will begin on the former administrative buildings at Genferstrasse 27. The outer shell and the distinctive exoskeleton must be completely replaced.
Built in 1968 in Zurich-Enge, this eye-catching building was designed for Genferstrasse 27 by architect Rudolf Zürcher. The structure is particularly distinguished by its, striking exoskeleton. According to the architect’s report, the square steel supports should create a ‘vertical accent’ in the façade. A curtain wall and parapet linings made of light aluminium castings complete the high-tech appearance. In order to comply with fire regulations, however, the ‘exceptionally slim steel supports’ needed to be generously covered.
Current building physics and fire safety requirements do not allow for the renovation of either the façade or the exoskeleton, but the building’s character will still be preserved. The original façade grid will be retained. The exoskeleton will be replaced by internal supports, but will remain recognisable in the façade structure using pilaster strips. The verticality of the building will be additionally emphasised by enlarged window areas. The parapet elements will be rescaled, and the granite floors and white-grey marble panels will remain intact. The restoration work will be completed by autumn 2018.
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Stücheli Architekten is expanding its range of services – and entering the world of acting!
At the request of C-Films (Schellen-Ursli, Night Train to Lisbon, Grounding: The Last Days of Swissair), Stücheli Architekten is playing a role in the series Wilder, which will be broadcast on Swiss television from December 2017 to January 2018. However, the ‘actors’ showcased are not the architects themselves, but the firm’s projects.
The backdrop of the story is an architecture firm in the fictitious mountain town of Oberwies, where a foreign investor is planning to build a large holiday resort. But shortly before construction begins, the investor’s daughter disappears without trace. ‘The series juxtaposes local identity with the economic opportunities of a globalised world,’ explain the series’ creators. As a crime series, it is meant to spark a discussion about Switzerland in microcosm today.
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When the new semester begins on 20 February 2017, the first ‘relaxation room’ will open its doors at ETH’s Hönggerberg campus.
The ASVZ has been offering students and researchers popular relaxation and recuperation facilities in the centre of Zurich with its relaxation rooms for more than 10 years. At the request of students, ETH has now expanded several studios in the HWW residential complex to accommodate a relaxation space. The space, which is being designed by Stücheli Architekten, is largely open plan. It is divided into a reception area and relaxation area by a ‘box’ of oiled oak, the envelope of which houses all the technical installations.
In the outer relaxation area, guests can choose from different lounge chairs – with and without vibration, with and without music – while being exposed to a constant stream of atmospheric images displayed on a canvas screen stretched above. In contrast to the open relaxation area, the box is home to an introverted meditation room, where the inside walls are dark blue and variable lighting is used to produce a variety of moods. To ensure that guests are able to immerse themselves without worry, the facilities are supervised and include ‘wake-up service’ staff that wake students after half an hour.
