immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Category: New construction

  • Recycling of building materials needs more acceptance

    Recycling of building materials needs more acceptance

    This year, the focus of the Blickpunkt conference organized by the arv Baustoffrecycling association was the quality assurance of the recycling and processing of building materials, even in smaller companies, as well as the requirements for the building products created with them. According to a press release , Blickpunkt 2021 took place digitally on Wednesday.

    National Councilor Isabelle Chevalley spoke at the French-speaking digital Blickpunkt, the “Point de Mire”, in a lecture on strengthening the circular economy with regard to building materials. The importance of recycling building materials to conserve natural resources and scarce landfill volumes has meanwhile also been recognized politically and included in the deliberations of parliament. The Commission for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK) is working on measures to promote the recycling of building materials, she is quoted as saying. Still, more efforts are needed, according to Chevalley. Companies should offer building owners such products in a targeted manner. Measures are also necessary in procurement.

    Quality assurance is central here. The lecturing experts provided information about the implementation of in-house production controls as well as the reuse of reclaimed asphalt. The standards for this are currently being revised. Here, the association arv Baustoffrecycling Switzerland is committed to promoting recycling and for greater acceptance by all stakeholders, according to the media release.

  • Model city Baden completes the first project phase

    Model city Baden completes the first project phase

    The results of the first working phase of the model city project were noted and discussed by the representatives of the 13 participating municipalities. According to a media release from the city of Baden , the municipalities' figures and data compiled in four working groups were analyzed and assessed. The further procedure in the 2nd project phase was also decided.

    The 13 municipalities of the model city include Baden, Birmenstorf, Ehrendingen, Ennetbaden, Fislisbach, Gibstorf, Mägenwil, Mellingen, Neuenhof, Oberrohrdorf, Obersiggenthal, Turgi and Wettingen.

    In the discussion on authorities, administration and organization, considerable differences between the municipalities were found, according to the press release. In the area of finance, it was determined, among other things, that the tax income per inhabitant in the model city in 2019 was 14 percent above the Aargau average. It is also assumed that the debt in the model city communities will increase significantly on average in the financial planning period up to 2025 due to high investments.

    In the case of health, society and social affairs, simple and immediate reorganization or reorganization are hardly possible due to the complexity. But cooperation is feasible. The analysis of settlement development, spatial planning and mobility showed that the consolidation of the municipalities would not contribute to a cost reduction overall. Increased efficiency is also possible today.

    For the second phase of the project, it was decided to continue working on three topics from phase 1. In cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), a “talent pool” is to be developed which enables learners to continue to be employed in one of the 13 model communities after completing their apprenticeship. The other projects are regionalization of tax offices and the development of a joint solution for refugee care. In the second phase, there will be a joint IT infrastructure, model planning for a sub-area of land use planning, and coordination of the development prognoses for the number of pupils as well as school space planning and school buildings.

  • Halter AG lays the foundation stone for a new quarter

    Halter AG lays the foundation stone for a new quarter

    A new quarter is to create the connection between Suhr Süd and the center. In addition to a twelve-story high-rise, three four- to six-story buildings are being built. Schlieremer Halter AG is responsible for project development and implementation, according to a media release . The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday.

    The quarter is being built on an area formerly used by Ferroflex AG. There will be areas for living, services and commerce. Public open spaces with paths and squares, a children's play area and a barbecue area are planned between the buildings. In the high-rise and in the so-called garden house, 59 apartments with 2.5 to 5.5 rooms will be built as residential property. 143 rental apartments are being built in the other two buildings.

    The development project will be implemented according to the objectives of the 2000 Watt Society. District heating from the Buchs AG waste incineration plant is used to generate heat. Solar systems will provide some of the electrical energy required.

  • Menziken gives the green light for the Unity housing estate

    Menziken gives the green light for the Unity housing estate

    The building permit for the new housing estate called Unity in the municipality of Menziken has become legally binding. Steiner AG can then start construction work.

    As the Zurich developer as well as a total or general contractor notifies , six apartment buildings with 47 condominiums and 51 parking spaces will be created close to the station as a whole. The canton-protected Villa Zur Eintracht, which was built in 1811/12, will blend in harmoniously with the overall situation.

    Steiner is thus making a contribution to the promotion of affordable housing. A functional design can be built in a cost-optimized manner. Among other things, uniform windows in all buildings, minimized living space and standardized wet rooms in all apartments contribute to this.

  • City council approves design plan for Obertor

    City council approves design plan for Obertor

    The design plan for the Obertor area was drawn up in a cooperative process with the participation of interest groups from the old town, representatives from the people's initiative for Obertor, the landowners, the city council and the city administration, the administration of the city of Winterthur informs in a message . According to her, the city council of Winterthur has now approved the design plan. Objections can be raised until October 12th.

    Shops, offices and apartments are to be built on the approximately 6,500 square meter area in the old town. The design plan provides for different uses for the individual properties. Shops on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors are planned for the buildings at Obertor 11 and 13. The historical inventory of the building at Obertor 17 is intended to be used to furnish offices. In the court properties Obertor 15 and 17a, the establishment of an innovative mixed use of residential and commercial is planned.

    At Badgasse 6, the concept aims to use wellness based on what was once the so-called bathtub mosque, is further explained in the communication. If this turns out to be impractical in practice, renting a health center, for example, will be considered as an alternative. The inner courtyard between Obertor and Badgasse is to be made accessible to the public as a “green island”.

  • Tschopp Holzindustrie is making progress with the sawmill

    Tschopp Holzindustrie is making progress with the sawmill

    The Tschopp Holzindustrie AG is a milestone in the construction of its new sawmill at its headquarters in Buttisholz known . The civil engineering work in the saw hall area was thus completed. Now the building construction work is to begin. The building should have a length of 125 meters, a width of 50 meters and a height of 20 meters.

    The new sawmill is scheduled to start operations in spring 2023. Tschopp Holzindustrie is investing a total of 75 million francs in the expansion. It is the largest investment in the company's 100-year history to date.

    Tschopp Holzindustrie specializes in the production of formwork panels for the construction industry. Since 2005, pellets have been produced from the waste wood for the energy industry. After the new sawmill has gone into operation, timber construction companies will also be offered products that have not yet been manufactured at home or not industrially manufactured in Germany and therefore have to be imported from abroad, such as three-layer natural wood panels.

  • From the metal factory to the mixed neighborhood

    From the metal factory to the mixed neighborhood

    The Wydeneck was a closed area for over 100 years and was used exclusively by the "Schweizerische Metallwerke AG Dornach" for metal processing. Swissmetal still produces today and uses around half of the area. Small craft businesses and manufacturing SMEs also work.

    In 2015, Hiag acquired the area in Dornach and began planning its future use. In close cooperation with the canton and municipality, the owner developed a coherent basis for the transformation of Wydeneck. The leading office for the test planning process was the Zurich urban planning office Feddersen & Klostermann in collaboration with Brühlmann Loetscher. 90 interested residents brought their wishes and suggestions into the planning process during a two-day participation process. On this basis, the master plan was drawn up and approved by the municipal council in 2018. In this context, the new name was also announced: Wydeneck – Metalli im Wandel.

    The area-specific sub-zone plan revision and the development of a sustainable mobility concept are currently on the agenda. Central topics are the development of the quarter with a bus line, its own S-Bahn stop and the integration of the feeder to the A18 motorway. Building land is to be re-zoned along the Birs and the river basin is to be revitalized.

    The opening of the aeral will initially take place through transitional uses. This creates space for business, leisure and culture. The offers are intended to attract customers and visitors. With the start of the first construction phase, these uses will be successively replaced or relocated. Several hundred apartments as well as commercial and service-oriented offers will be built in the next 20 to 25 years. Some of the existing historical buildings will be renovated and will remain as a contemporary witness of industrial history.

    The Wydeneck is to become a lively, mixed and urban district. Around 1,800 residents and a wide range of commercial and service offerings with up to 400 jobs are planned. The publicly accessible riverside park and the preservation of the historical substance also ensure the special flair.

  • KREIS house in Feldbach opens

    KREIS house in Feldbach opens

    An open day will take place on September 4th to mark the opening of the KREIS House . From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Synergy Village in Feldbach, on which the research project of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ( ZHAW ) is located, is accessible to all interested parties. You can try out the construction techniques of the KREIS house yourself. There will also be a market with sustainable local products.

    Efficient resource-to build the climate and sufficiency building was in May this year started . With this project, the ZHAW Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management ( LSFM ) wants to show how circular economy can be implemented on a reduced living space of 40 square meters. As the ZHAW writes in its invitation, everything in this house is in circulation – from the building materials to the nutrients from the wastewater for fertilizing the roof garden.

    Research is constantly developing new, recyclable technologies, materials and concepts for use in buildings, according to the LSFM project description. But the path from basic research to broad application is a long one. Therefore, the KREIS house is providing a room to try out these new technologies and materials. With their feedback, visitors contribute to improving it.

    In future, the ZHAW will be offering regular visits. They can be viewed online, as can dates for regular workshops on specific cycle issues. The overnight stays in the KREIS Haus are currently fully booked. The LSFM is also available for individual and cycle-oriented construction advice.

  • Institute publishes guidelines for spatial development

    Institute publishes guidelines for spatial development

    The Institute for Spatial Development (IRAP) of the OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule has published a free step-by-step guide for questions about redensification in small communities. It is intended to support communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants to prepare their own settlement strategy, according to a media release .

    A total of 95 percent of the municipalities in Switzerland have fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. The correspondingly small administrations often do not employ any specialist staff for spatial planning. According to a press release, this means that nobody cares about high-quality settlement densification. Since the revision of the Spatial Planning Act 2014, however, localities have only been allowed to develop within their existing area in order to prevent urban sprawl.

    The free guide of the IRAP is intended to give you a start. The paper comprises seven chapters on 40 pages and is intended to answer questions such as "how much growth can our community expect?", "Where in our building zones makes the most sense of densification?" And "how do we launch these projects?".

    "With this methodology, qualified spatial planners should be able to work out an interior development strategy for the entire municipality within a maximum of 200 to 300 hours for communities with up to 10,000 inhabitants, and thus for less than CHF 50,000" -Professor Andreas Schneider quoted in the press release.

    The complete method manual is available online for download free of charge.

  • Papieri Biberist – The quarter of tomorrow is created today

    Papieri Biberist – The quarter of tomorrow is created today

    In mid-2012, Hiag acquired the premises of the former paper mill in Biberist. The area with around 277,000 m² of industrial space was used for paper production for a good 150 years. Accordingly, it is very well anchored as an industrial location in the region and is considered a development area of cantonal importance. The area is strategically located along the A1 and A5, between the metropolitan areas of Zurich, Basel and Bassin lémanique. Within the Solothurn industrial cluster, the Papieri area benefits from the networking with numerous companies and research institutions as well as a unique, high-performance infrastructure on the area. In addition to the largely commercial-industrial use, places are to be created on the area where work, culture and leisure uses as well as living can be found.

    The Papieri area is ideally located and should become a destination in the suburban country.

    Revitalization of the area
    In cooperation with the municipality and the canton, work is being carried out on the transition to a binding sub-zone plan: "The sub-zone plan is currently being revised, which will encompass the entire area perimeter," says the responsible site developer Michele Muccioli to Immo! Nvest. “We expect 12 to 18 months before the zoning plan becomes legally binding. After three complete lines of paper machines have been sold in the past few years, the remaining lines are currently being sold. In addition, the settlement and provision of usable space will continue to be promoted. " Around 20 companies are currently located on the site, and around 120 people have their workplaces on the paper. Companies from a wide variety of areas are located here. The next step is the partial opening of the area in the area of the Biberist Ost train station. The aim is to activate and revitalize the area. According to Muccioli, this is now possible because the sales and dismantling of the large machines have now been completed.

  • Spinning mill, girls' home and soon residential area

    Spinning mill, girls' home and soon residential area

    The Emmenhof is located in the center of Derendingen and looks back on a varied history: It began 150 years ago with the establishment of a cotton spinning mill. In 1897 a girls' home was also built. In 1932 there was another change of ownership: when Scolari AG moved in, the Emmenhof served as a pasta production facility until 1973. From then on, various SMEs settled on the 50,000 m² area. Even today there are around 100 companies that have their offices or warehouse here. The area, which has so far only been built on in the southern part, is characterized by its own hydropower plant, the striking factory and the former manufacturer's villa.

    Emmenhof Immobilien AG has planned a fundamental transformation of the area: by 2030, a new quarter with residential offers, leisure facilities, various office and commercial space as well as a catering concept is to be built here. In addition to the preservation of some detached historical buildings, several new buildings are planned. A total of 270 apartments are planned, the construction of which is based on the history of the area.
    Access to the new quarter is marked on the south side by the “Wollturm” with ten floors, an underground car park entrance and a visitor parking lot in front of it. This entrance is followed by the “cotton yard”, which is framed by two buildings and closed off by the historic factory building. The “Garnwerk”, “Turbinenhaus” and “Därberei” buildings are being built in the north of the site. Generous green areas and direct access to the Emmen Canal and the Schluchtbach give the quarter a natural character.

    The development of the area is planned in six stages. The first stage has already been completed and includes the “Spindelgut” project in the southwest. The new building, designed by the architects Liechti Graf Zumsteg, consists of three wings with 14 apartments.

    Emmenhof Energie AG is the area's electricity producer. This enables tenants and owners to obtain sustainable energy: from photovoltaic systems that are installed on the roofs of the new buildings and from hydropower. Hot water and heating get into the houses by means of district heating.

  • Riverside benefits from pop-up pickling

    Riverside benefits from pop-up pickling

    The Riverside in Zuchwil combines the best of both worlds: urban amenities and rural tranquility. The owner is the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation, which not only attaches great importance to careful treatment of the environment, not only in this sensitive development. "For us, a holistic, sustainable development of this former Sulzer industrial area also includes regular exchange with the surrounding area and the community in order to be able to respond to the current needs of society in the further development of the existing master plan," says Tobias Hossfeld, Head Development at of Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG, the asset management team of the investment foundation. Markus Hauri, a genuine Solothurn native and his team from mha GmbH, is responsible for the structural developments. At the same time, Andreas Brunner and his team from Wincasa MUSM are working on the best possible management and marketing of the new quarter, which offers space for a wide variety of uses such as living, leisure and business. Seen in this way, around 20 people are permanently busy with the riverside area.

    Lots of momentum
    Last year the RiverYard garden pub was created in an industrial look, which not only received a lot of popularity from the region, but also works wonderfully as a marketing tool. Many guests were already interested in renting an apartment, even though the shell was not even finished. "We did not expect such a rapid momentum of its own", says Leo Smeets, Head Letting at Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG. He believes this development will continue in the future. The restaurateur would also like to stay on the site for the long term and is already working on new ideas with the development team. In the area of living, too, development is being advanced with care and continuity. Various projects are being worked out in line with ongoing demand and will be implemented in the coming years.

    Proximity to the quarter
    Riverside management is currently looking forward to inquiries from other interested parties, for example from the retail and service sectors or the catering industry. Seen in this way, the development from a former industrial area to a lively, diverse quarter is working very well. According to Hauri, more and more people are recognizing the qualities of the area and are able to establish a closeness. The effects of the pandemic have also resulted in only a few changes in rental inquiries.

  • Solothurn receives a new waste incineration plant

    Solothurn receives a new waste incineration plant

    Kebag in Zuchwil disposes of 221,000 tons of waste annually and supplies the region with district heating and electricity. It is the third largest waste recycling company in Switzerland. 85 percent of the waste comes from the 1,178 municipalities in the cantons of Bern and Solothurn. However, the plant will be 50 years old in 2025 – and will thus reach its age limit. In order to ensure environmentally friendly disposal in the future, a new system is essential. Because with increasing age, failures increase, which lead to expensive business interruptions and disposal bottlenecks, as the company writes on its website.

    The company in Emmenspitz is already the largest electricity producer in the region. Throughout Switzerland, the largest proportion of electrical energy is obtained from the rubbish. The planned plant, called Kebag Enova, will in future be able to generate up to 15 percent more energy from the same amount of waste thanks to the latest technology. A special fabric filter and multi-stage flue gas cleaning lead to an almost complete reduction in pollutants. The investment costs amount to between CHF 450 and 500 million. But the new building cannot be implemented without any compromises: 11,000 square meters of forest had to be cleared. As compensation, Kebag is providing the same amount of replacement afforestation at other locations in the canton of Solothurn.
    The company TBF + Partner AG from Zurich was commissioned with the planning mandate. Penzel Valier AG won the architecture competition in 2017. The Kebag Enova will have two instead of four incineration lines. Larger furnace lines are planned for this, which ensure greater energy efficiency. The building envelope is fitted with solar panels, making it currently the largest photovoltaic facade system in Switzerland. The chimney is attached to the side of the building and rises 80 meters in height. There is a viewing room at the top of this concrete shaft.

    One or the other challenge had to be overcome beforehand: A significant change had to be made in 2018 to the cooling. The kebag has always used river water cooling. Cooling is essential so that electricity can be generated and the steam required for this can be used. Due to the revised Water Protection Ordinance, which came into force in mid-2018, the decision was made to use air instead of river water cooling for the new building. In addition, a test showed that the subsoil was not stable enough for the Kebag Enova. Thanks to a pile and slab foundation, this problem could also be solved.

    The planning application was finally submitted in 2019. The groundbreaking took place on May 7, 2020. Commissioning is planned for the beginning of 2025.

  • Create new living space

    Create new living space

    The Attisholz-Nord area is very large and has massive industrial buildings from bygone times. Cellulose was produced industrially on the Attisholz site for 130 years. Over the next 20 years, the area is to become a lively place for living, working, business, education, research, living, experiencing and enjoying. «There will be offers for all population groups with the most varied of needs in
    find all phases of life », says Andreas Campi from the real estate developer Halter AG. “The area has huge development potential for the realization of a new living space in an intact landscape with diverse typologies, renovated factory buildings and new buildings. In addition, the city of Solothurn with its high density of cultural offerings is located a short distance away. "

    The former factory halls can be used as an event location.

    Start of construction in autumn 2023
    The public edition of the land use planning has just been completed. As the next planning step, study orders are carried out, which form the basis for the subsequent design plan and the building permit process. In fact, the pandemic had no impact on the planning: “Since we made the relevant information available digitally and online, the planning could take place as originally scheduled. Video presentations made comprehensive information possible. This was also possible thanks to the good cooperation with the municipality of Riedholz. " The planned start of construction for the first stage is now in autumn 2023.

  • Everything new in front of the Olten train station

    Everything new in front of the Olten train station

    Olten train station is one of the busiest train hubs in Switzerland. The square in front of it is an important traffic hub and has a high volume of car traffic, buses, pedestrians and bicycles. He is also an important figurehead for the city.

    The Bahnhofplatz is showing its age, however – it is becoming less and less able to meet the growing demands. Therefore, the project Neuer Bahnhofplatz Olten nbo provides for a comprehensive reorganization and redesign.

    The square and its adjacent streets should meet the various mobility needs of the city and region – with sufficient capacity for traffic, an expanded bus station, a large bicycle station, underground parking and separate areas for taxis, short-term parking and “kiss and ride”. A large roof following the platform will mark the entrance area to the train station and give it a new face.

    Continuous terraces on both sides of the station bridge should invite you to linger. A new footbridge is intended to act as a tension band bridge for pedestrians and bicycles, providing direct access from the left bank of the river to the train station and the new bicycle station. With the extension of the Hardegg pedestrian underpass, a new, direct access from the train station to the Aare area will be created.

    In 2012, the canton of Solothurn, the city of Olten and SBB Immobilien joined forces to form a builders' association. In 2019 they presented the project to the population as part of a public participation. The tender for the master builder work is to take place in 2024. The phased realization of the new station square with ongoing operations is planned for the period 2025 to 2028.

  • From the biscuit bakery to the center district

    From the biscuit bakery to the center district

    In 2022, the Trimbach community will say goodbye to its longstanding figurehead: the Wernli biscuit factory. Since the beginning of the 20th century, they have been making their biscuits, which are known throughout Switzerland, on the Breiti site.

    Following the takeover of Wernli AG by Hug AG in 2008, the production site will soon be relocated to the new owner's headquarters in Malters, Lucerne. This frees up the space in the best location in the center of Trimbach for a new use.

    The new owner of the area, Aare Liegenschaften AG, is developing a new residential area in close cooperation with the municipality. In order to determine the most coherent concept, a study contract was awarded. The Rykart Architekten AG project emerged as the winner from the proposals submitted. The architects won over the jury with an overall urban planning concept that provides for a residential complex with around 150 apartments. The few, compact buildings fit harmoniously into the existing structure of the district.

    Four 4- to 6-storey buildings are planned for the front, flatter part of the site. Three higher buildings with up to 9 storeys will be erected in the rear part along the edge of the forest. Thanks to the different heights, the various buildings fit smoothly into their surroundings. Condominiums are planned in the three rear buildings and rental apartments in the four front buildings. An underground car park and bicycle parking spaces are also planned.
    The “Wernli-Haus” on Baslerstrasse has been preserved as a witness of the industrial past and forms the entrance to the development. A place with trees, which is also available to the surrounding quarters, serves as a meeting place. The future residents are to have their own square in the center of the settlement in the upper area. To the side of this there are two tree groves, a playground and a lawn. The exposed Gämpfibach flows through the entire site.

    Public-oriented commercial uses are planned on the ground floors along the streets. Thanks to its location right in the center, the new quarter already offers optimal connections to public and private transport. The area itself remains car-free and is characterized by a well-developed network of paths.

    The winning project is currently being further developed and revised. At the same time, the development and layout plan is drawn up. The planning work should be completed in mid-2022.

  • Construction activity is declining

    Construction activity is declining

    According to the real estate barometer of Zürcher Kantonalbank ( ZKB ) for the second quarter of 2021, the number of projected apartments in planning applications has decreased by 23 percent compared to 2018. According to the ZKB analysts, this is related to high vacancy rates in peripheral regions, to which investors would have reacted accordingly. In urban centers with low vacancy rates, construction activity is picking up again in some cases, according to the barometer.

    Lausanne and Zurich are cited as examples. In the cantons of Geneva and Basel-Stadt, however, the analysts have observed a decline in construction activity. They attribute this to the high regulatory hurdles typical of urban areas and the scarcity of building land. Overall, however, the analysts state that “new apartments are increasingly being planned where the demand for living space is high”.

    In the canton of Zurich, the desire for one's own four walls, which has been intensified by the pandemic, is further explained in the barometer. According to him, house prices have increased by 5.5 percent over the previous year and 2.9 percent over the previous quarter. At the same time, the analysts see a shrinking of the offers advertised on real estate portals. They explain this with the fact that many properties are marketed by regional brokers or are already sold before construction begins. For this year and the following, the analysts are assuming excess demand in the residential property market across Switzerland.

  • SV Hotel is planning two concepts in a new building in Hamburg

    SV Hotel is planning two concepts in a new building in Hamburg

    SV Hotel is continuing its growth strategy in one of the most important and strongest hotel markets in Germany. In the Hamburg city center, directly on the famous Mönckebergstrasse, SV Hotel will implement two concepts in a new building. "It is a unique project that we were able to develop in this prominent location with our partner Redevco," Beat Kuhn, Managing Director of SV Hotel, is quoted in a press release.

    The real estate investment manager Redevco is replacing the current C&A building with a climate-neutral new building with mixed use for hotels, retail and catering. It was designed by the renowned London architecture firm Sergison Bates . It had won the architecture competition announced by Redevco and the city of Hamburg.

    On eight floors, the building combines a Hyatt Centric boutique hotel with the so-called Stay KooooK extended stay concept developed by SV Hotel itself. The Hyatt Centric's 185 elegant rooms and suites will occupy the second through eighth floors. The roof terrace and hotel bar offer a view of the harbor. To this end, SV Hotel becomes the new franchisee of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation . Beat Kuhn sees this as an “ideal addition” to the SV Hotel portfolio: “We share common values with Hyatt and the understanding that good hospitality can be experienced through the quality of design and service.”

    The 85 studios of the Stay KoooK concept are located on the fifth to eighth floors. Long-term guests as well as business and leisure travelers will find a sharing solution with the service of a good hotel, including a roof terrace with a view of the town hall and the Inner Alster.

    According to Volker Thamm, Director Business Development SV Hotel, the cooperation with all those involved was so “professional and efficient” that SV Hotel could “very well” imagine “developing further projects together”.

  • Concrete 3D printed bridge unveiled in Venice

    Concrete 3D printed bridge unveiled in Venice

    The Striatus arch bridge was unveiled on Monday at the Venice Architecture Biennale. It was designed by the Block Research Group at the Institute for Technology in Architecture of the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich ( ETH ), the Zaha Hadid Architecs Computation and Design Group and the Innsbruck specialists for additive manufacturing with concrete, incremetal3D . It was made possible by the building materials manufacturer Holcim Switzerland .

    Striatus is part of the “ Time Space Existence ” exhibition. It will be shown by the European Cultural Center as part of the Biennale. Its name (Latin: ribbed, grooved, striped) reflects the structural logic and the manufacturing process of the bridge, said Philippe Block from ETH in a press release from Holcim. “In arched and vaulted structures, the material is placed in such a way that the forces can be transferred to the supports in pure compression. The strength is generated by the geometry, whereby only a fraction of the materials are used that are used in conventional beams. ”This opens up a multitude of possibilities for building with lower strength and environmentally friendly.

    "Striatus stands on the shoulders of giants," says Shajay Bhooshan of Zaha Hadid Architects. “It revives ancient techniques of the past.” Its “tactile quality, aesthetics and strength” reflected the vision “that beauty is a promise of performance”. The joint work makes the striatus bridge "greater than the sum of its individual parts", says Johannes Megens, co-founder of incremental3D. According to Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch, the digital and circular design of the bridge uses "concrete at its best, with minimal use of materials and blocks that can be reassembled and reused infinitely".

    Holcim claims to be working on a range of 3D printing applications, from complex infrastructure to affordable housing for Africa. In Malawi, Holcim has put the world's first school made of 3D concrete printing into operation. The construction of the walls took only 18 hours and consumed 70 percent less material than with conventional construction methods.

  • UZH wants to generate electricity on a green roof

    UZH wants to generate electricity on a green roof

    The University of Zurich is to have a new teaching and learning center, the FORUM UZH, by 2028. According to a message on Monday, the cantonal building construction department submitted the building pre-submission. Afterwards, the seven-story building designed by the Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron will be erected as a wood hybrid construction with a concrete structure. The use of wood is supposed to save as much CO2 as is needed to build 77 single-family houses.

    The roof is to be greened intensively, thereby improving cooling in summer and thermal insulation in winter. At the same time, the roof will have a photovoltaic system. This should generate around 150 megawatt hours per year, enough electricity for 50 households.

    Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024. In the future, the building will have 700 workplaces for students and work space for 6000 members of the university.

  • New place and drinking fountain inaugurated at JED

    New place and drinking fountain inaugurated at JED

    The new place at the JED in Schlieren has been inaugurated. According to Gianfranco Basso from Swiss Prime Site Immobilien AG , after a three-year, intensive construction phase and a staggered commissioning of the new center, the essential work on the surrounding area has been completed. The construction fences have disappeared and the converted former printing center of the NZZ has now become an open area and thus part of the public space.

    The new square was officially opened on Thursday and the drinking fountain was inaugurated. The opening began with a speech from Basso. This was followed by a greeting from Stefano Kunz, City Councilor and Head of Construction and Planning. Then it was called “water march” for the drinking fountain and there was an aperitif at the fountain. This was followed by a joint lunch for representatives from politics, authorities, those involved in the project and those responsible for JED in the restaurant eve’s kitchen, right on the square.

    The owner Swiss Prime Site found the name JED for the old printing center that has been converted for today’s use. It stands for join. Explore. Dare – connect, discover, dare. The JED has good connections just outside Zurich. With a direct connection to the Limmattalbahn and 500 meters from Schlieren train station, the location is well connected to the public transport network.

  • Industrial wasteland is becoming a place of work for companies

    Industrial wasteland is becoming a place of work for companies

    There used to be a cement factory and chemical works here. Today the 75,000 Reichhold area is a huge industrial wasteland. Now it is to become the Reichhold campus.

    In 2012, Hiag bought the site, half of which is on the ground of the municipalities of Hausen and Lupfig. She has carried out the remediation of contaminated sites by 2020. According to the vision of the owner, traditional commercial operations such as a carpenter's workshop should find space here, as well as industrial companies with development and production departments or SMEs such as a catering company. The versatile space is to be adapted to the needs of the tenants.

    The idea of sharing is very important on the Reichhold campus. Not only meeting rooms and co-working spaces, but also bicycles and motorized vehicles should be bookable by the hour via an app. In addition, the planned structures should encourage the individual companies to use infrastructures such as the reception, the canteen or exhibition rooms together. Restaurants, take-aways, shops with everyday goods, a day-care center and a fitness studio should also make the environment attractive for the employees of the local companies.

    Sustainability plays an important role on the Reichhold campus. Innovative materials on and in the buildings, renewable energy and solar panels are part of the self-image of the campus. There are numerous meadows and green spaces around the building.

    The building application for the first projects is to be submitted from 2022. If everything goes according to plan, the first properties will be ready for occupancy from summer 2023.

  • Forest Tower: creative center in the lower Aare valley

    Forest Tower: creative center in the lower Aare valley

    As a six-storey building with a wooden facade and ribbon windows, the Forest Tower protrudes over the Kleindöttingen industrial park – an area with an industrial history in the lower Aare valley, which is now primarily used by logistics-intensive and production-oriented companies as a location.

    The former production building was converted into an office building earlier. So far, the owner Hiag has advertised the office space contiguously. Now she wants to liven up the rooms with a new idea: The Forest Tower is to become a creative hotspot. In order to realize the project, Hiag is looking for creative minds – companies, private individuals, freelancers and self-employed – who want to settle in the Forest Tower. As soon as two or three interested parties agree, the owner wants to start renovating the first floor.

    For teams that need their own office, office space of various sizes and with plenty of daylight should be created. A shared studio should provide space for creative work, for example with a work area in the middle of the room and with additional workplaces on the walls. A co-working space is also being planned.

    A common meeting room should be created for meetings, customer presentations or workshops. The Community Area, a communal area with a coffee kitchen and lounge, is to serve as a meeting point. The Ideation Salon, a room with a large screen, whiteboard and moderation material, is intended to provide a creative environment for workshops and networking. Company aperitifs with a view of the Klingnau reservoir could soon take place on the roof of the building. The fast internet, a professional printer and the common rooms should be available to the entire Forest Tower community.

    Kleindöttingen is part of the so-called Zurzibiet, an economic region that is also gaining in importance on a supraregional level. It comprises 26 communities between Baden and Brugg. The area is characterized, among other things, by its convenient location and moderate cost structure. The proximity to research and innovation centers makes it particularly attractive for qualified specialists and companies.

  • Küttigen: Former tree nursery as a residential area

    Küttigen: Former tree nursery as a residential area

    The "Baumgarten" is being built in a sunny south-west location with a view of the Aare and Central Switzerland. 143 rental and owner-occupied apartments as well as 20 terraced houses are planned.

    The development consists of three building areas with different living space concepts. Ffkb Architects, Zurich, designed the row houses in the lower part of the residential area. The bark-brown houses in the central area of the building were designed by ERP Architects in Baden. And Frei Architekten, Aarau, is responsible for the red-red houses in the northern part.

    Thanks to their clever geometry, the multi-family houses should fit into the park-like landscape. Large gaps between the structures should allow maximum views and sun exposure for the individual apartments.

    The houses will be built in hybrid construction with load-bearing interior walls and non-load-bearing facade elements. Wood is used as a common denominator for the exterior walls of all house types. On the one hand, because the client works in the timber construction industry. On the other hand, in order to pay tribute to the character of the former tree nursery area and to pick up on its history.

    The planning of the surroundings should also combine the various construction areas into a large whole. Hager Partner, Zurich, also takes up the themes of the former tree nursery. Part of the tree population will be preserved.

    Markstein was entrusted with the building trust mandate and the marketing of the new building project by the client Rombach Immobilien. The real estate service provider will accompany it until it goes into operation at the beginning of 2023 and has already started the market launch of the property.

    The building permit was in place at the end of January 2021, and construction work began in mid-March 2021.

  • Implenia is helping to build tunnels in France

    Implenia is helping to build tunnels in France

    A joint venture run by Implenia has received an order from Tunnel Euralpin Lyon Turin ( TELT ). This involves the planning and construction of part of the Mont Cenis base tunnel in France. The affected section of the 57.5-kilometer tunnel is around 4 kilometers long and runs from the Villard-Clément portal.

    Implenia's partners in the project are NGE , Itinera and Rizzani de Eccher . Implenia holds 34 percent of the joint venture. According to the information, the project partners won the contract due to the technical optimizations that they introduced during the tendering phase. They took first place in the evaluation of the technical solutions. The order volume is around CHF 248 million. The project will take about four and a half years.

    "Implenia is proud to be able to plan and build such an important part of the future European rail network", Erwin Scherer, Global Head Tunneling at Implenia, is quoted in the press release. “We can use our vast experience in all areas of extensive infrastructure projects as a strength in such projects,” he adds.

    The client TELT is a Franco-Italian company that is responsible for the construction and management of the cross-border section of the new Lyon-Turin line at the Mont-Cenis base tunnel. This section is to become a central ring of the Mediterranean Corridor – one of the nine axes of the European transport network TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network). The expansion is intended, among other things, to promote the relocation of transport goods from road to rail.

  • Lighthouse project in the canton of Aargau

    Lighthouse project in the canton of Aargau

    Switzerland is at the forefront of the most innovative countries in the world: "We are building a high-tech ecosystem here, based on the research focus of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)," Benno Rechsteiner, CEO of Innovaare AG told Immo! Nvest. “With its top-class large research facilities, PSI is the largest research institute in Switzerland. In order to promote exchange with industry, several departments are moving into the innovation campus, which is connected to the PSI site by an underpass. This gives you direct access to the particle accelerator opposite. " Park Innovaare already houses 17 high-tech companies in existing buildings. These companies originate from research at the Paul Scherrer Institute, ETH, EPFL and CERN. "For us, a mix of research departments, large industrial companies, development-oriented SMEs and high-tech start-ups is ideal."

    Greatest possible flexibility
    In order to meet the demands of a modern innovation campus in the long term, the property must be built as flexibly as possible so that later adjustments are possible: to enter into settling companies ». says Rechsteiner, who sees the Innovaare Park as a lighthouse project in the canton of Aargau.

    Renewable energy sources
    Around 95 percent of the heat requirements of Park Innovaare are covered by waste heat from cooling and around five percent by PSI's district heating network. Highly efficient HFO machines, which draw their energy from the Aare, are used to efficiently generate the cooling energy. From this point of view, the energy requirements of the 38,000 m2 innovation campus for heating and cooling are largely met from renewable sources.

  • A glass tower for bathing

    A glass tower for bathing

    Fritz Merker from Merker Liegenschaften AG is enthusiastic about Angela Deuber's work: “What fascinates me most is the light, airy appearance of the building,” he says. “The niches created by the re-entrant facades, together with the vertical structure from the cantilevered balcony layer, create an overall composition that blends in well with the small-scale surroundings. At the same time, the construction method enables maximum flexibility in terms of apartment sizes and floor plans. " Most of all, Merker is looking forward to the possibility of being able to offer both urban living and commercial space in this central location. Merker Liegenschaften AG is currently in the middle of the process of adapting the special usage plan. One of these has existed for this area since 2003, albeit for an eight-story office building. "With the construction of apartments we want to make a contribution to the mix of living and working in the middle of the up-and-coming district of Baden Nord." The property has been owned by Merker Liegenschaften AG for 20 years. The long wait was definitely worth it: "We can serve the city and the population better with an offer of living space than with even more office space."

    Hybrid use
    Angela Deuber's project emerged as the winner of the competition, not least because it fits perfectly into the existing building fabric of the city of Baden. At the same time, it creates a reference to the existing and planned high-rise buildings in the area. And how is the use of the new Merker Tower planned today? “A mixed use of rental and owner-occupied apartments is planned. The lower floors are designed as a so-called hybrid, which means that they can be used either for residential purposes or as service or commercial space. Public use is planned for the over-high ground floor. Speaking of the energy budget: it is very likely that the high-rise will be connected to the city's district heating network, which is currently being expanded and upgraded to include renewable energies.

    Chur architect Angela Deuber in her element.
  • Better late than never

    Better late than never

    Actually, Brown-Boveri-Platz should have been rebuilt now and opened in summer 2022. But private construction work on the multi-storey car park led to delays: “The reasons are the later start of construction of the multi-storey car park and extensive relocation of the works”, René Zolliker from Baden's construction planning department told Immo! Nvest. Construction is now scheduled to start in summer 2023. About a year later, in autumn 2024, Brown-Boveri-Platz is to be opened. The redesigned square fulfills two basic functions: Firstly, the square is a place of passage and residence for passers-by, employees, customers and residents for around 300 days a year. Second, public events take place on the square for around 50 days. «The present project meets both requirements. The two-row wreath of trees creates the atmosphere that should characterize the new town square, and the inner open space of 40 x 50 m creates the necessary space for events with up to 2000 people, ”says Zolliker. Basically, the place is free from motorized traffic. Exceptions are the deliveries of goods for the ABB shipping company and the transformer center as well as the journeys of emergency vehicles by the rescue services.

    Use with benchmarks
    But how do you skillfully revitalize a space above a garage these days? The basic paper on the use of space with several benchmarks was already drawn up for the competition in a broad-based process: During the day, access to industry, trade, education, culture and leisure activities should be guaranteed. In the afternoon, the square will serve as a forecourt to the transformer halls, cinemas and the hotel, as well as an outdoor space for the congress center. In the project team led by the planning and construction department, in addition to the commissioned planner, the municipal departments civil engineering, works yard, urban ecology, location marketing, development planning, culture and the city police were represented. ABB Immobilien AG, Regionalwerke AG Baden and the planning team Hochhaus Ost / Parkhaus Brown-Boveri-Platz were also involved in the planning process. The biggest hurdle was the building credit approval by the residents' council. But now it should finally start.

  • A milestone for Kapo Aarau

    A milestone for Kapo Aarau

    The construction project and the cost estimate for the new police building are available. The public hearing required by law has already been carried out and the building permit has also been issued. In the 3rd quarter of 2021, the Grand Council will decide on the construction loan and its implementation. "A police building is not a building like any other functional cantonal building," says Markus Richner from the Department of Economics and Internal Affairs in the canton of Aargau. "On the one hand, there are special requirements in terms of security, on the other hand, various special uses such as a laboratory, shooting rooms or a room for close combat training – also known as a dojo – must be guaranteed." The construction project is fundamentally undisputed. But as with any other large and complex project, keeping within budget was the greatest challenge. "We assume that the Grand Council will approve the project and the loan applied for in order to create good framework conditions for the further development of the cantonal police," said Richner.

    The police building is definite.

    Additional overall renovation
    After 30 years of operation in 7×24-hour mode, a complete renovation of the police command building is due. This applies in particular to the ventilation and sanitary facilities, including cables, as well as those for high and low current. In addition, structural adjustments are necessary due to changes in use. The improvements in the energetic area are also essential – especially the facade. According to Richner, the planning work was not significantly influenced by the corona pandemic: “All deadlines were met as planned. Due to the corona, many meetings did not take place on site, but rather virtually. I'm really looking forward to the moment when we can hand over the finished new building to the canton police. This is a milestone for the canton police. "

  • Innovative quarter on the Henz site

    Innovative quarter on the Henz site

    At the Suhr Süd train station, an innovative quarter is being created that combines living and working. To this end, the Henz area – the former location of the steel trading company of the same name – is being completely converted. Condominiums and rental apartments are being built here, some of which can be moved around at the push of a button. The four to twelve storey buildings are characterized, among other things, by their open courtyards. The new quarter connects to the urban train station quarter in the north. In the south, according to the SSA Architekten AG commissioned with the project, the “scale transition to the Helgenfeld and Frohdörfli developments” is successful.
    59 condominiums and 143 rental apartments as well as studios and movements – these are furnished apartments with movable modules – as well as commercial, restaurant and service areas are to offer residents a meeting point for young and old after completion in autumn 2023. A 40 meter high building with 12 floors will be particularly striking. Here, on areas of 72 to 119 square meters, 2.5 to 5.5 room apartments with loggias are being built that are for sale. A restaurant and at least two should be on the ground floor
    Service companies settled
    will.

    The garden house has four floors. The condominiums are designed as 2.5 to 5.5 room apartments. With living areas of 68 to 129 m2, loggias, terraces or garden seats, the larger apartments are particularly suitable for families. The so-called courtyard building provides for 15 condominiums. Two more buildings with rental apartments and studios are being built along Gränicherstrasse and Bernstrasse West.

    A public square with a café and playground as well as various open spaces connect the area with the surrounding quarters via a network of paths. The property on the southwest corner of the area offers additional outside space. On the other side of the street, a green area belonging to the Henz area with a playground and pavilion is being built. Various commercial and service areas are planned on the ground floors of the building. These uses are intended to enliven and enrich the quarter. The studio areas allow flexible use of living and working.

    The sustainable energy strategy includes the supply of district heating from the Buchs waste incineration plant. The energy for the gentle cooling of the apartments in the high-rise is generated by solar energy. Photovoltaic systems on the site generate part of the household electricity. The parking garage is equipped with a charging infrastructure for e-bikes and electric cars.

    Condominiums can be configured online by their future residents. Visiting your own four walls in the future is already possible thanks to virtual reality (VR). Halter AG is continuously registering bookings for this offer: "Customers are thrilled with how well they can imagine the premises and, in particular, the view and the ceiling height of 2.60 to 2.80 meters," says Agathe Siffrin from Primus Property AG who takes care of sales for Halter AG. “The combination of VR, configurator and showroom is the optimal solution for showing apartments that will only be ready for occupancy in around two years”, she continues. As of today, over 50 percent of the condominiums are already reserved. The rental starts next year. Interested parties can register for the one to two-hour VR and advisory tour free of charge via the website.