Housing Development Zurlinden, Zurich

P
2053
Housing Development Zurlinden, Zurich-Wiedikon
Zurich suffered a severe housing crisis during World War One. In 1916, for
the first time, the City invited five architectural companies to compete for
a large development with 180 affordable labourer›s homes on the Sihlfeld.
Architects Robert Bischoff (1876-1920) and Hermann Weideli (1877-1964)
won the competition and built the Zurlinden development in just two years.
Although the development was not fully realised, the solution was considered generously spacious at the time and, with its perimeter block structure
and open space formed by the Fritschiwiese park, is still one of the city›s
most impressive civic ensembles. Bischoff and Weideli drew up an efficient
layout for the three accommodation blocks, which were soon replicated all
over Zurich and became a universal design for apartments. All interventions
were made with the most minimal measures possible. The focus was on
modernising the cabling system and replacing the wood-fired tiled stoves
with central heating. A decisive intervention was the reconfiguration of the
kitchen and bathroom. A wall element was placed between the two rooms
to house all the required installations and cables. This allowed the kitchen
to be expanded and to also be used as a lounge. The character of the
apartments, with their austere but striking fittings, was preserved, thanks
to close cooperation with the City and the tenants. The installation of a
lift and the consolidation of the apartments made it possible to build ten
wheelchair-accessible apartments.
Stücheli Architekten AG - Binzstrasse 18 - CH 8045 Zurich - T +41 44 465 86 86 - F +41 44 465 86 00 - www.stuecheli.ch
FACTS
Type of commission:
Client: Location:
Competition, 1st prize;
Renovation
City of Zurich
Zurlindenstrasse 233-237, Fritschistrasse 2-19,
Badenerstrasse 291-293,
Zypressenstrasse 40,
Zentralstrasse 163 - 167, 8003 Zurich
Budget in CHF: Gross Area:
Apartments:
Budget/Apartment in CHF:
Construction ph./Apartm.:
Construction phase:
25.7 Mio. (BKP 2)
25´840 m2
179
115‘000.5 ½ weeks
September 2006 - December 2007
PLANUNGSPARTNER
Architecture:
Structural Engineering:
Electrical Engineering:
HVAC Engineering:
Building Physics:
Stücheli Architekten AG, Zurich
APT Ingenieure GmbH, Zurich
Wobmann Elektroplanung, Zurich
ALCO Haustechnik AG, Zurich
Bruno Heidt, Zollikerberg / CH
Date: 28.May 2015