Zurich: City plans to redevelop the Furttal housing estate
The housing estate with over 180 apartments in Affoltern needs to be renovated. The city anticipates construction costs of CHF 55 million.
The Furttal housing estate in the western part of Zurich-Affoltern, designed by architect Claude Schelling in 1980, is getting on in years and needs to be renovated. The 15 apartment buildings with flat roofs comprise 181 apartments (mainly 3.5 and 4.5 rooms) and are arranged in rows of two to four houses perpendicular to the slope. At the time, the buildings were constructed inexpensively from prefabricated elements.
The city of Zurich has now announced that a number of construction defects had to be rectified in the years following completion. In the meantime, parts of the building fabric are in a condition that makes repairs necessary. Among other things, the building envelope and the parking halls are leaking in places, and the latter also need to be structurally renovated. Investments are also being made in the installation of a photovoltaic system and in measures to reduce heat.
The city has announced that a planning selection process will be carried out, a construction project drawn up and planning permission obtained by mid-2026. The renovation is then to be implemented in stages between 2027 and 2031. This will allow the 440 people living in the estate to return to their current homes or move within the estate. According to the city, the construction costs are expected to amount to CHF 55 million. (ah)
