Extension of Housing Development Brunnenhof

The existing housing development Brunnenhof, owned by the ‘Stiftung Familienwohnungen’, was designed by Gigon/Guyer in a competition in 2003 and completed in 2007. In response to the high demand for affordable family apartments, the development is extended to the south with a 40-meter-high building. Compared to the earlier buildings, the added apartments are arranged in a more compact way, with less space required per occupant. The new building meets the tight cost criteria of the municipal subsidy for low-cost housing.

Located directly on Bucheggplatz, the plot is flanked by Hofwiesentrasse to the south and west. To the east it adjoins the park with the Buchegg neighborhood center, and to the north the existing Brunnenhof development. The slender, 13-storey volume forms a termination for the lower slab buildings of the Brunnenhof-/Hofwiesenstrasse development as well as a prominent head-end building on Bucheggplatz. The extension continues the concept of the multi-angled existing blocks. It connects directly to the long, narrow building along Hofwiesenstrasse, angles eastwards to the park and creates a generous forecourt through an offset away from the street. A long projecting roof marks the two entrances. Together with the forecourt, this emphasizes the role of the western side as the main urban façade. To the south, the park with its large trees extends all the way to Bucheggplatz, creating an ample new approach.

On the ground floor, a lofty space for public use is oriented towards Bucheggplatz. The entrance hall on Hofwiesenstrasse provides access to the upper floors, to the community rooms and, via a multifunctional room, to the park. This creates an immediate link between the street space and the green area. The community rooms can be joined together by means of a mobile partition wall and face both the street and the park, where a tranquil outdoor area steps down towards the existing buildings. The multifunctional room and the community rooms can be connected for events and festivities.

The first and second floors accommodate office spaces. Above, the typical floors contain twenty 5.5-room apartments for large families, two on each level. All bedrooms face the quiet park. The eat-in kitchens extend along Hofwiesenstrasse between the entrance zones with wardrobes and the living rooms with corner loggias overlooking the park. Centrally placed bathrooms allow for a circulation loop, lending the apartments spaciousness. The balcony on the park side runs the entire length of the building, expanding the bedrooms on the outside and connecting them to the two corner loggias.

The design principles of the existing façades are continued in the extension: horizontal concrete strips, wood/metal windows with parapets and railings, colored glass cladding on the south, west and north façades, sliding panels of colored transparent and translucent glass as well as metal picket railings on the eastern balcony layer. The color concept for the new building is based on Adrian Schiess' continued elaboration.

Location Zurich

Programme High-rise 40 m
Ground floor: public use, community rooms, multifunctional room
1st and 2nd floor: office space
3rd to 12th floor: 20 5.5 room apartments

Commission 2020

Planning/Construction 2020–2028
ARGE Erweiterung Brunnenhof
Architecture: Annette Gigon / Mike Guyer Architects, Zurich
Construction Management: Güntensperger Baumanagement AG, Zurich

Client Stiftung Familienwohnungen (SFW), Zurich
Client’s Representative: Basler & Hofmann AG, Zurich

Gross Floor Area 4‘572.8 m2

Team G/G Pieter Rabijns (Team Manager), Ivana Beljan

Landscape Architecture Uniola AG, Zurich

Structural Engineer Meichtry & Widmer AG, Zurich

Electrical Engineer IBG Engineering AG, St. Gallen

Building Services Engineer Balzer Ingenieure AG, Winterthur

Building Physics Engineer Durable Planung und Beratung GmbH, Zurich

Fire Safety Balzer Ingenieure AG, Chur

Acoustical Engineer Durable Planung und Beratung GmbH, Zurich

Coordination Balzer Ingenieure AG, Winterthur

Colours Adrian Schiess, Zurich

Other Design plan (Gestaltungsplan): Suter von Känel Wild Planer und Architekt AG, Zurich

Visualization Gigon/Guyer

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Housing Development Brunnenhof

The former, noise-exposed three-story apartment buildings owned by the Foundation for Large Families in Zurich have been replaced by two slightly angled, elongated volumes of different heights. The larger, six-story building follows Hofwiesenstrasse but is oriented toward the park, which it shields from the street and hence from traffic noise. The smaller, four- to five-story building on Brunnenhofstrasse is in a certain sense within the park, surrounded by green on both sides with its height corresponding to that of the neighboring buildings. Both buildings are conceived as ‘stacks’ of horizontal slabs which cantilever to varying degrees and form generous balconies on the park side.

For the noise-affected building on Hofwiesenstrasse, access to the apartments is via longitudinally arranged staircases and spacious entryways that adjoin the eat-in kitchens. All bedrooms face the quiet park side and are connected by a projecting balcony. The living rooms extend through the apartment, facing both east and west and giving onto the park-side balconies.

Within the smaller Brunnenhofstrasse building, the living rooms are positioned along the façade and look onto the park to the south and southeast via adjoining balcony areas. In the four-story north- and south-facing part of the building, the eat-in kitchens are connected to the living rooms on the south side, while in the angled part of the building the kitchens enjoy the evening sun.

A circuit-like layout grants all apartment types spaciousness, freedom of movement for both children and adults, and enhanced flexibility of use. The latter is further augmented in the ground floor apartments by means of extra rooms between them that can be used by either apartment. The entrance lobbies on the ground floor are connecting rooms that link to the park and provide space for strollers, scooters, and toys. The naturally lit laundry and drying rooms are located in the basement, adjacent to the stairs.

A kindergarten and nursery are housed at the end of both buildings where the pathway to the park is situated. A multi-purpose common room takes the most prominent position at the corner between street and pathway. A continuous hedge along the street creates a green zone that provides the necessary privacy for the slightly elevated ground floor apartments. The park-facing apartments are elevated by half a story to allow the inclusion of a garden and play area between the park and the building. The hedges that run alongside the building approaches establish the border between these zones and the park.

The façades are formed by the balconies and the concrete bands that wrap horizontally around the building. Between them, floor-to-ceiling windows alternate with colored glass panels, joining together with sliding glass shades to create an interplay of reflecting and matt, opaque and translucent or transparent surfaces. The color concept was developed together with the artist Adrian Schiess. Facing the street, the glazing is dark blue and violet, while toward the park the tonality flows over large areas from blue tones to orange to yellow. The impression of the fluid, changing play of colors is enhanced by the varying positions of the sliding elements - ultimately the residents modify and create new color compositions every day, even every hour.

Location Zurich, Switzerland

Programme Two buildings, 72 apartments, 6 extra rooms, common room, kindergarten, day-care, underground parking with 75 parking spaces

Competition 2003, 1st Prize

Planning/Construction 2004–2007

Client Stiftung Wohnungen für kinderreiche Familien, Zurich

Gross Floor Area 18‘437 m2

Team G/G Markus Seiler (Project Manager), Lorenzo Igual, Rolf-Werner Wirtz, Ulrike Horn

Site Management b+p baurealisation ag, Zurich

Landscape Architecture Hager Landschaftsarchitektur AG, Zurich

Structural Engineer Dr. Lüchinger + Meyer Bauingenieure AG, Zurich

Electrical Engineer Elkom Partner AG, Chur

Building Services Engineer 3-Plan Haustechnik AG, Winterthur

Building Physics Engineer Lemon Consult GmbH, Zurich

Colours Adrian Schiess, Mouans-Sartoux, France

 

Housing Development Brunnenhof

The former, noise-exposed three-story apartment buildings owned by the Foundation for Large Families in Zurich have been replaced by two slightly angled, elongated volumes of different heights. The larger, six-story building follows Hofwiesenstrasse but is oriented toward the park, which it shields from the street and hence from traffic noise. The smaller, four- to five-story building on Brunnenhofstrasse is in a certain sense within the park, surrounded by green on both sides with its height corresponding to that of the neighboring buildings. Both buildings are conceived as ‘stacks’ of horizontal slabs which cantilever to varying degrees and form generous balconies on the park side.

 

For the noise-affected building on Hofwiesenstrasse, access to the apartments is via longitudinally arranged staircases and spacious entryways that adjoin the eat-in kitchens. All bedrooms face the quiet park side and are connected by a projecting balcony. The living rooms extend through the apartment, facing both east and west and giving onto the park-side balconies.

Within the smaller Brunnenhofstrasse building, the living rooms are positioned along the façade and look onto the park to the south and southeast via adjoining balcony areas. In the four-story north- and south-facing part of the building, the eat-in kitchens are connected to the living rooms on the south side, while in the angled part of the building the kitchens enjoy the evening sun.

A circuit-like layout grants all apartment types spaciousness, freedom of movement for both children and adults, and enhanced flexibility of use. The latter is further augmented in the ground floor apartments by means of extra rooms between them that can be used by either apartment. The entrance lobbies on the ground floor are connecting rooms that link to the park and provide space for strollers, scooters, and toys. The naturally lit laundry and drying rooms are located in the basement, adjacent to the stairs.

A kindergarten and nursery are housed at the end of both buildings where the pathway to the park is situated. A multi-purpose common room takes the most prominent position at the corner between street and pathway. A continuous hedge along the street creates a green zone that provides the necessary privacy for the slightly elevated ground floor apartments. The park-facing apartments are elevated by half a story to allow the inclusion of a garden and play area between the park and the building. The hedges that run alongside the building approaches establish the border between these zones and the park.

The façades are formed by the balconies and the concrete bands that wrap horizontally around the building. Between them, floor-to-ceiling windows alternate with colored glass panels, joining together with sliding glass shades to create an interplay of reflecting and matt, opaque and translucent or transparent surfaces. The color concept was developed together with the artist Adrian Schiess. Facing the street, the glazing is dark blue and violet, while toward the park the tonality flows over large areas from blue tones to orange to yellow. The impression of the fluid, changing play of colors is enhanced by the varying positions of the sliding elements - ultimately the residents modify and create new color compositions every day, even every hour.

Location Zurich, Switzerland

Programme Two buildings, 72 apartments, 6 extra rooms, common room, kindergarten, day-care, underground parking with 75 parking spaces

Competition 2003, 1st Prize

Planning/Construction 2004–2007

Client Stiftung Wohnungen für kinderreiche Familien, Zurich

Gross Floor Area 18‘437 m2

Team G/G Markus Seiler (Project Manager), Lorenzo Igual, Rolf-Werner Wirtz, Ulrike Horn

Site Management b+p baurealisation ag, Zurich

Landscape Architecture Hager Landschaftsarchitektur AG, Zurich

Structural Engineer Dr. Lüchinger + Meyer Bauingenieure AG, Zurich

Electrical Engineer Elkom Partner AG, Chur

Building Services Engineer 3-Plan Haustechnik AG, Winterthur

Building Physics Engineer Lemon Consult GmbH, Zurich

Colours Adrian Schiess, Mouans-Sartoux, France

Photos © Georg Aerni
© Hannes Henz
Filmstills: © Severin Kuhn