Zurich: Herzog & de Meuron and Christ & Gantenbein build in the university area
The renowned architectural firms Herzog & de Meuron and Christ & Gantenbein from Basel have won project competitions for the future Zurich University Center (HGZZ).
Herzog & de Meuron has won the project competition for the Forum UZH. The firm will build a new education and research center for the University of Zurich at the transition from Rämistrasse to Gloriastrasse. The plan is for a trapezoidal building that is set far back from the street. This will create an additional central square in the university area, according to a joint announcement by the canton and city of Zurich, the University Hospital (USZ), the University (UZH) and ETH Zurich.
Christ & Gantenbein won the study contract for the USZ core site. The new building for the first major stage of the overall renovation of the hospital consists of two buildings that form an ensemble with the historical buildings. According to the project managers, the open spaces between the two buildings are well-balanced and allow easy passage through the hospital grounds. The hospital park will become a green and lively center in the middle of the new university area.
As the project managers emphasize in their press release, all buildings will remain well below the permitted maximum heights. They are to be completed in an initial construction phase by 2027. In addition to the buildings, the planning also focused on the roads and open spaces in between. (ah)
