Zurich: Swisscanto plans residential development in Witikon

The 24,000 sqm Harsplen site between Katzenschwanzstrasse, Witikonerstrasse and Hauhölzli is currently used for agricultural purposes, but is largely in the W4 residential zone. According to the building zone regulations, a site development with multi-storey residential buildings and a maximum utilisation rate of 160% is possible, according to the land owner Swisscanto Investment Foundation. However, this maximum utilisation rate will not be exhausted because the study commission has produced an urban development solution with a density that is compatible with the neighbourhood and makes economical use of the building land.

It is now planned that the architectural firms Armon Semadeni Architekten, Galli Rudolf Architekten and BDE Architekten will develop a concrete building project consisting of eight structures. Krebs und Herde Landschaftsarchitekten will be responsible for the open space concept. One of the planned buildings is to be a pilot project for ecological construction; here, innovative sustainability concepts and ideas are to be tested. According to the Swisscanto Investment Foundation, various housing standards with different apartment types ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 rooms are intended to appeal to a diverse group of residents. A municipal kindergarten with after-school care is also planned.

Construction submittal is scheduled for fall 2022, with construction beginning in 2023 at the earliest. (ah)