A dynamic increase in density was planned for the premises of the former Labitzke industrial plant, where paint was produced until the early 1990s. The 10,000 square metres of land in Zürich-Altstetten now accommodate 277 rental units, commercial spaces, offices and a day-care centre.
Eight buildings of different sizes and heights meander among neighbouring plots between busy Hohlstrasse and quiet Albulastrasse. The staggered arrangement of the buildings creates enclosed outdoor spaces, each with a character of its own depending on location and design. Passageways connect the squares and ensure pedestrian access throughout the premises. The former atmospheric quality of the heterogeneous commercial buildings should be sustained in a new form.
Two high-rise buildings of 15 and 21 floors respectively are placed west and east at the beginning and end of the development. The ground floor levels facing the streets and the outside squares accommodate shops, commercial spaces and a day-care centre. Forty types of flats have been designed for a wide spectrum of tenants, from spacious 4.5 room accommodation to simple studios with a small garden.
Vertical and horizontal strip work and slightly recessed railings form an architectural structure shared by all of the buildings and lending unity to the whole.
