Zurich: 250 non-profit apartments on the Letzibach site

The city of Zurich is planning a development of 250 non-profit apartments in Altstetten (visualization © Gut&Schoep Architekten GmbH, model photo © Dominic Büttner, Zurich)

Twelve offices took part in the architectural competition organized by the Office for Buildings, the Foundation for Housing for Large Families and the Foundation for Apartments for the Elderly. The approximately 10,000 square meter competition site, which the City of Zurich acquired from SBB in 2014, is located in the Z6 central zone and is designed for a 278 percent utilization rate with an area superstructure. While the open track field adjoins on the north side, the busy Hohlstrasse is located on the south side.

High-rise solutions were necessary to achieve the desired density. The specified apartment sizes were based on the area requirements of the cantonal housing subsidy ordinance. The aim is to achieve the energy parameters of the Minergie-P-ECO standard.

The winning project "Mira" by Gut&Schoep Architekten GmbH and Neuland ArchitekturLandschaft GmbH envisages a coherent building structure that will house around 50 apartments belonging to the Foundation Apartments for Large Families and 87 apartments belonging to the City of Zurich's real estate management.

In a high-rise tower around 60 m high, which forms the end of the building, 110 apartments for older people (Stiftung Alterswohnungen Stadt Zürich) are planned. The offer will be supplemented with additional uses mainly on the first floors (commercial, office, studios, café, kindergarten, day care center) on an area of around 1,500 square meters. A shared residential courtyard is to be created towards the track area, linking to the bicycle connection along the track area.

Target construction costs of CHF 105 million have been set for the new building. The City of Zurich acquired the land from SBB for CHF 18 million, with an estimated land value of around CHF 24 million.

The municipal council is expected to decide on the project loan in 2017, with the referendum scheduled for 2018. Completion of the new Letzibach D housing estate is planned for 2021. (ah)