Im Tiergarten 7 – The Transformation
As second guiding principle in the SIA position paper “Climate Protection, Climate Adaptation and Energy”, our professional association formulates: “The SIA is committed to the economical use of resources and the expansion of the circular economy.” A current conversion project illustrates how resource conservation can be achieved in concrete terms. In the Alt-Wiedikon neighborhood of Zurich, the existing laboratory building of the “Im Tiergarten 7” property is being transformed into a residential building that functions as an urban hinge between the neighboring “Friesenberg” office building and the surrounding park-like residential area. Based on a condition analysis and feasibility study, the client Mobimo decided to use the existing reinforced concrete skeleton structure of the existing building for the new residential use. The structural and façade designers from Lüchinger+Meyer supported the challenging planning and execution of the conversation alongside Theo Hotz Partner Architekten and total contractor WSG AG.
Today we pause to celebrate the topping out together with all those involved in the planning and construction. The photo stream illustrates the special complexity of the project and the construction conditions. Building in and with existing buildings requires particularly intensive cooperation and coordination between planners and contractors. In the course of the conversion, the floor areas from the ground floor to the 4th floor are expanded. The the top floor will be replaced by an attic floor floor in steel-concrete composite construction, new balconies will be built on each floor and floor-to-ceiling window fronts will be created. New wide-span staircases will cross the atrium in the future. The building’s bracing system also had to be supplemented and strengthened. All these measures required numerous and varied adjustments, additions and reinforcements to the existing structure.
