BS+EMI Architektenpartner

Description

The Letzi district is a major development area in the city of Zurich. The transformation on Flüelastrasse began with the James development and is currently undergoing significant densification with the Koch site, which will continue with the Dennlerstrasse development. The office and commercial building at Flüelastrasse 16 contributes to a mixed-use district. As a head-end building with a simple structure, it completes the closed row of commercial buildings on Flüelastrasse. The building comprises four storeys for commercial use with two office floors above. They can be flexibly divided into rental units of around 60 to 460 square metres. The fourth, extra-high storey also allows for internal densification through the installation of galleries. The top two floors with office use will accommodate the new headquarters of the Stiftung PWG. While the commercial floors feature surrounding balconies, the offices have access to a roof terrace designed by Ganz Landschaftsarchitekt*innen. The supporting structure consists of a robust concrete skeleton with four load-bearing axes. One of the eight bays accommodates the vertical circulation. The skeleton is framed with insulating, self-supporting single-stone masonry. Large punched windows illuminate the high interior spaces and characterise the architectural expression on the street. The building gets its distinctive look from the front façade with the sawtooth roof, the spiral staircase and the elevator doors to the surrounding balconies.