Category: Projects

Your gateway to business success

With Westgate, a representative business center is being built in the immediate vicinity of Zurich Airport – and thus to the whole world: “The unique mix of state-of-the-art office space, optimal accessibility and first-class infrastructure makes Westgate the perfect company headquarters,” says Patrick Angioy from Seitzmeir Immobilien AG. “The Westgate combines everything that makes a successful business location: outstanding architecture, over 16,000 m² of flexibly scalable office space, excellent gastronomy and a well-developed conference center.”

But not only the infrastructure is excellent, the location is also hard to beat: The Westgate is being built in the economically successful Zurich airport region – only 600 meters from Zurich Airport and a few steps away from the new Glattalbahn. The building elements Dock A, B and C together with the cube form the architectural work of art. The constitutive element of the building is the interior atrium with a spacious lobby, lounge area and bar. The light-flooded architecture meets the highest aesthetic standards. “The interplay of warm bronze and gray tones as well as the combination of metal, textile and wood has a timelessly modern effect and is at the same time a symbiosis of home and far away,” says Angioy.

The Westgate Business Center meets all the requirements of “Green Building Switzerland”, is CO2-neutral and is certified according to Minergie P and Leed Gold Standard. Natural building materials such as wood and stone ensure a pleasant, healthy indoor climate. Thanks to intelligent building technology, the networked systems of heating, cooling, ventilation, sun protection, photovoltaics, etc. are ideally
coordinated with each other and enable maximum efficiency. Heating and cooling (free cooling) are provided by groundwater pumps, and optimized heat recovery supports the sustainable energy cycle. The high insulation quality of the building envelope prevents energy losses and at the same time reduces unwanted heat input through high-quality glazing.

June 2022
The Glattalbahn is getting longer

The transport system in the Kloten region is reaching its limits. The consequences are increasing hours of traffic jams and severe noise and air pollution. The Glattalbahn extension to Kloten promises a chance for improvement, which, in addition to the extension of the tram line between the airport and the Steinacker development area in Kloten, includes two other sub-projects: A main bicycle connection with a separate footpath and flood protection for Kloten and for the airport. The spatial proximity and the dependencies of these sub-projects require joint project planning and construction. This means that the canton of Zurich can effectively and sustainably master three challenges in one project and make optimal use of synergies.
On July 16, 2020, VBG Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal AG (VBG) submitted the application for the infrastructure concession to the Federal Office of Transport (BAV). The procedure examined whether there was a public interest in the construction and operation of the new tram connection and whether there were no significant public interests – for example environmental protection or nature and heritage protection – opposed to the granting of the concession. The Federal Council examined the application and decided to grant the license to the VBG. This decision cannot be contested. There will be opportunities for objections at a later point in time during the public approval of the plan.
The VBG is currently working on the construction project that forms the basis for the cantonal loan approval. The decision of the cantonal council is expected in 2024. This is subject to an optional referendum. The project was submitted to the federal government in June 2021 as part of the 4th generation agglomeration programme. This will probably decide on co-financing by the end of 2023. The approval process (plan approval process under the Railway Act) is expected to run in parallel from 2023. Construction is currently expected to start in 2026, subject to legally binding planning approval and secured funding from the canton and the federal government. The construction work will take around four years.
The Glattalbahn has big plans.

June 2022
The winning project for the Reussbühl West district has been chosen

Office of Living Things and Büro Dudler for space and traffic planning.

The 27’000 square meters

The assessment committee for the study contract for the redesign of the CKW site in Reussbühl, which is now used for commercial and industrial purposes, unanimously decided in favor of the “Habitat – Quartier im Hain” project. It was developed by the Zurich architects Salewski Nater Kretz in collaboration with the Office of Living Things and the Dudler office for space and traffic planning.

According to a CKW press release , the 27,000 square meter area is to be “transformed into an attractive, lively and distinctive city quarter”. The energy service provider will give up its location there “in a few years”. In the call for tenders, requirements were made with regard to heat generation and rainwater management. In addition, at least half of the CKW shed hall, a former silk mill, was to be retained. Residential buildings will primarily be built on the remaining area.

The winning project “convinces in the reinterpretation and further development of the historical landscape”, which was once characterized by floodplains and water-using industry. The design based on the so-called sponge city principle “cleverly” incorporates these historical references. This project will be further developed in the coming months and will then form the basis for the Reussbühl West development plan. The designs of all planning teams are on display at CKW in Rathausen from June 21st to July 4th.

June 2022
iCITY is intended to strengthen the Allschwil life sciences location

The life sciences location around Basel is to be further strengthened with a new office concept. Behind it is iCITY , an initiative and an ecosystem that wants to network start-ups, investors and researchers. This is to take place in the Alba House , which will be completed by the architects Herzog & de Meuron by 2023.

The Alba House is being built on the BaseLink campus in Allschwil. The Swiss Innovation Park Basel Area , the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the Innovation Office of the University of Basel are also located on the site. The house will offer flexible workplaces on a total area of almost 15,000 square meters. According to a press release, it is based on a compact design, circular economy, geothermal energy and photovoltaics.

iCITY also operates a location for companies from the life sciences and biotech sectors in Reinach BL. There it offers, among other things, special laboratory and workspaces on an area of 10,000 square meters.

iCITY has its roots in the Dutch family company Vebego . This has also implemented a similar concept for high-tech players in Eindhoven.

June 2022
SVSM visits the Glattpark

During a tour of the Glattpark development area in Opfikon on June 15, the board of directors of the Swiss Association for Site Management ( SVSM ) and leading members and consultants inspected the development . The meeting organized by Schlierem location promoter Albert Schweizer was part of the site development initiative – the supreme discipline of location promotion. It is about the interaction between the public sector, investors, architects, area management, users and associations of different interests in the development of a common vision and strategy.

The two-hour tour was led by Beny Ruhstaller, Glattpark Area Manager and SVSM President. He edited the publication ” Glattpark – a city is created “. The participants visited the different neighborhoods, looked at the inner courtyards, appraised the architecture and visited the lake and park.

Arun Banovi, publisher of Immoinvest and media partner of the SVSM, also took part in the visit. Likewise the former SVSM board member Beat Ritschard and Alexandra Vogel, the managing director of the SVSM in Winterthur, as well as Jasmina Ritz, managing director of the Limmatstadt AG location promotion.

For the purpose of the event, the initiators said that the SVSM board actively cultivates relationships with its senior members and experienced experts. It is about preserving the great wealth of knowledge and network of these personalities. And with such invitations, it is also about the appreciation of their merits for the benefit of the association and the entire industry. The SVSM sponsors are also invited to events such as those in the Glattpark.

After the visit in the afternoon, an aperitif and dinner was scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Casa Cosi restaurant.

June 2022
Zurich Airport is rebuilding Dock A

Zurich Airport has chosen the Raumfachwerk project as the winner of its competition for the construction of the new airport terminal Dock A with tower and dock root. It prevailed against ten competitors and is intended to replace the existing and aging Dock A.

From 2030, according to a statement from Zurich Airport, “probably the largest airport dock to date made primarily of wood” will be built next to the existing Dock A while operations continue. The investments are estimated at around CHF 700 million.

The planning team for this project is led by the renowned architect Bjarke Ingels. In addition to his Copenhagen and New York-based architects’ office BIG , the largest architecture and engineering company in the USA, HOK , is also involved, as is the Zurich architects’ office 10:8 . For example, it was responsible for the conversion of Zurich Oerlikon station. The London engineering and consulting company Buro Happold , which is experienced in airport construction, is also part of this team, as is the engineering office Pirmin Jung from Rain, which specializes in timber construction.

According to Bjarke Ingels, the team tried to meet the complex global challenge of CO2 reduction with the simplest possible solution, a space structure made of solid wood: “A simple but expressive design that is rooted in tradition and committed to innovation and the cultural and natural elements of Swiss architecture.”

June 2022
Walo installs new flooring in the Gübelin Museum

Walo Bertschinger has installed a new floor covering in Lucerne’s Gübelin Museum. According to a message from the Dietiker construction company on Facebook, the order was placed in the summer of 2021. The work is in the final phase, the message says. The goal is a floor covering that adorns the museum as an additional work of art.

The client imagined a warm floor with various rubber granules and a wooden frieze, according to the Walo report. The company ‘s own HALTOPEX rubber granulate was recommended to her. According to the company, this covering is particularly suitable for conversions, is very elastic, hard-wearing and easy to maintain. The optics are also inviting.

After inspecting a similar property, the client placed the order. From this April, work was carried out in the museum. The sub-floor was reprofiled and reinforced and a new sub-layer of epoxy mortar installed. The final installation of the HALTOPEX covering began in May. The work is nearing completion.

June 2022
Konnex Baden wins two more tenants

On behalf of the co-ownership, SPGI Zurich AG has rented two additional areas in the Baden connection . The Konnex building complex in the center of Baden is currently being completely renovated. According to themedia release , a “city in a city” offer will be available there by mid-2023. A total of around 35,000 square meters of space will be rented for this purpose.

According to the press release, the new tenants are Casino Davos AG and SkySale. Casino Davos has already moved in as an interim tenant and will move into its new 495 square meter space once the refurbishment is complete. SkySale Schweiz GmbH, better known under its apple box brand, is also a new tenant. It will move into around 814 square meters of space in early summer 2023.

The interest in the innovative multi-tenant concept of the Konnex is great and negotiations are currently taking place for many other areas. The city-in-city concept envisages a range of services and amenities, including restaurants, convenience stores, fitness, childcare and co-working.

SPGI Zurich AG, based in Zollikon, is a subsidiary of the Intercity Group , an independent real estate service provider with group companies in Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Basel, St.Gallen, Olten SO and Zug. Since 1993, SPGI Zurich AG has been an alliance partner of Cushman & Wakefield , a leading global provider of real estate services with headquarters in Chicago and 53,000 employees in 60 countries worldwide.

June 2022
UBS pension fund joins Halter project

As the new landowner of the Attisholz core area, the UBS pension fund is participating in the Attisholz development project in Riedholz. According to a media release by Halter AG , this core area covers an area of 73,000 square meters. The remaining area of 420,000 square meters will remain in the possession of Halter. The Schlierem-based real estate company will transform the area step by step over the coming years and will implement various construction projects in the process. “By the time it is completed, this part of the site will offer space for around 740 apartments with 1,250 residents. At the same time, several hundred new jobs will be created,” says the project’s goals.

A cooperation agreement between the canton of Solothurn, the municipality of Riedholz and Halter AG was originally concluded for the project. This has now been expanded to include the UBS pension fund. “The entry of the UBS pension fund immediately after the usage plan came into force is a strong commitment to the Attisholz area and thus also to the Solothurn region as an attractive place to live, work and live,” says Andreas Campi, Managing Director of Halter Developments.

The municipality and canton are also pleased about the entry of the UBS pension fund. Sandra Morstein, Mayor of Riedholz, sees the “trustworthy and constant cooperation” of all partners strengthened. “For the Canton of Solothurn, the sustainable and future-oriented development of the Attisholz area is a central concern,” says Government Councilor Birgit Wyss. “The investment by the UBS pension fund is an important signal for the canton of Solothurn as an investment location.”

June 2022
Holcim and Norman Foster Foundation build reusable emergency shelters

Holcim and the Norman Foster Foundation enter into a partnership. The aim is to develop a concept for the construction of 1000 emergency shelters and a medical facility in one day. According to a press release from Holcim, it is intended to offer the growing number of displaced persons dignified and resilient accommodation.

“More than 80 million people worldwide are currently being forced to flee their homes,” Holcim CEO Jan Jenisch is quoted as saying. “Emergency shelters can be more than just a roof over one’s head and should offer people the dignity and security of a home.”

A one-week workshop in Madrid, which will take place until June 10, will kick things off. Holcim will focus on innovations such as low-carbon concrete, lightweight prefabricated support structures and green cements for soil stabilization in the planned construction of 1,000 affordable, demountable and reusable shelters and medical facilities.

This collaboration follows Holcim’s goal of contributing a total of 500 million Swiss francs to creating positive social impact between 2021 and 2030. To this end, the company leads programs for affordable housing and infrastructure, as well as community initiatives for education, health and skills.

June 2022
«Plaster and Paint» – Prize for the best objects

The Swiss Painters’ and Plasterers’ Association SMGV and Messe Luzern AG jointly award the “Swiss Prize for Plaster and Paint” under the umbrella of appli-tech. They advertise the prize for teams made up of planners and craftsmen. Concretely implemented projects can be submitted in the two categories plaster facade/color design and interior design. A great opportunity, the SMGV and the Lucerne Exhibition Center agree. «In the past editions, the creative potential in the areas of plaster and paint could be shown with the submitted projects. We are convinced that this time we will be able to make high-quality and exciting work known to the public,” explains Ursula Gerber, trade fair manager at appli-tech. Mario Freda, SMGV Central President, adds: “This year we want to continue to promote the very important cooperation between experts from the trades and planning and move the use of plaster and paint into the focus of public attention.”

Energy renovation as a focus
A well-known jury evaluates the objects. In addition to the prizes in the plaster facade/color design and interior design categories, a special jury prize will be awarded for energy-efficient refurbishment. Jury member and SIA President Peter Dransfeld knows how important the topic is: “Sustainable building and energy-efficient renovations are becoming more and more important, with the design of the facade also playing a key role. Innovative and sensible solutions can be achieved in close, trusting and professional cooperation between architecture and trade. This honors this award.”

The jury awards a total prize money of CHF 35,000. The winning projects and selected works will be presented in a special show at appli-tech, the trade fair for the painting and plastering industry, drywall construction and insulation, from February 8th to 10th, 2023 and on the website. Reports in specialist media and the presentation in the jury report also beckon.

Registration until the end of September
Objects can be registered until September 30, 2022. The work must be submitted by October 20, 2022. The call for applications with detailed information and the option to register can be found at www.putz-color.ch .

June 2022
Papieri Cham is in high demand

The Cham Group announced in a statement that the first residents are due to move into the Papieri Cham high-rise as early as mid-September. She is converting the area of the former paper factory into a quarter for living and working. The first phase of construction is expected to be completed this year.

The real estate company explained in the press release that the 163 rental apartments created in the first construction phase were allocated within a few weeks. The commercial space realized in the first construction phase has already been almost completely let. Two thirds of the 61 condominiums to be built in high-rise I in the course of the second construction phase have also already been reserved. On the official marketing day on June 2, only two free apartments could have been offered on the Internet, the Cham Group reports.

In November, the first tradespeople should be able to open their studios in construction area A on Maschinengasse. Architectural and other offices, a film production company, two photo studios, a children’s painting studio and a dog grooming salon will all set up shop here. A dental practice and a pottery studio are moving into the ground floor of the L high-rise building.

The Cham Group sold its remaining paper business in early 2018. Now a pure real estate company, the Cham Group is concentrating on transforming the Papieri area into a mixed residential and working area.

June 2022
SAK implements second multi-energy system

In the Park 2022 development in Uzwil, SAK is realizing “its second ultra-modern multi-energy system”, the group of companies, which specializes in energy supply, informed in a press release . With the system consisting of photovoltaic and heat pump systems, charging stations for electric vehicles and a fully automatic billing system for electricity, water and heat, the three buildings in the superstructure meet “all the requirements for sustainable living in accordance with the federal government’s Energy Strategy 2050,” it says there. In Park 2022, the three trades electricity, heat and water are coordinated across all three buildings in a smart microgrid system.

Around 300 square meters of photovoltaic modules with a total output of 48 kilowatts peak were installed on the roofs of the buildings, explains SAK. The heat pumps installed in the basements of the buildings together achieve a peak output of 87 kilowatts for heating and hot water. The charging stations set up are equipped with intelligent load management. The residents of the superstructure can also use the smart meters used to measure consumption to track their meter readings and control their consumption.

“Here in Uzwil, we were able to exploit and deepen our extensive know-how in all aspects of sustainable energy solutions for the second time,” Adriano Tramèr, Head of Production and Energy Solutions SAK, is quoted in the press release. “With the intelligent central control, we optimize energy production and energy consumption between the three buildings to the maximum and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.”

May 2022
A canton creates accessibility

The train and bus connections in southern central Switzerland are bundled in the new cantonal train station in Altdorf. New train stops and additional connections significantly increase the potential for skilled workers. Knowledge-based service providers on the north-south axis benefit from direct access to the labor markets of the Greater Zurich Area and the greater Milan area and encounter technologies in the sectors of precision technology, alpine technology, traffic and safety technology and environmental technologies. With foresight, the canton of Uri has secured development areas on the Werkmatt Uri, which it is handing over exclusively for high-quality jobs at attractive conditions. With the new building of the Urner Kantonalbank directly on the edge of the platform of the new cantonal railway station, a working environment with offices ready for occupancy is offered. The German IT company Essendi IT recently opened its new Swiss headquarters at Bahnhofplatz.

The canton of Uri is also a fantastic living and leisure area with its lake landscape (water sports and sailing), the mountains and rivers (outdoor, climbing, hiking, Resort Andermatt), an authentic, unaffected area of experience with the primeval history and tradition of Switzerland . This creates inspiration for new business ideas.

May 2022
Apartment house Altera

Construction of this house started in June 2021. Altera comprises twelve residential units: four apartments, seven maisonettes and one penthouse. All apartments are flooded with light and the furnishings are kept in warm and light tones. The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the rough and mountainous Ursern Valley is the perfect contrast.
Already in the entrance area of the house, the lobby with a fireplace and sheepskin armchairs invites you to linger. The exclusively equipped common rooms are located on the ground floor. These include a ski room with a personal ski locker including boot warmers, a fitness center including a state-of-the-art spinning studio and a wellness area with spa and sauna for ultimate relaxation.

May 2022
Planning for the burn-out clinic in Vitznau goes into the next round

The plans for a burn-out clinic in the spa town of Gruebisbalm in the Vitznau municipality are entering the next round. A completely revised design plan that takes into account the concerns of the Federal Commission for Nature and Cultural Heritage ( ENHK ) can now be viewed at the municipality of Vitznau . It was implemented to a large extent by the time period planning AG and Roman Hutter architecture . Both are based in Lucerne. The Basel architects Miller & Maranta were also involved.

The clinic, located at an altitude of 900 meters, will offer space for 80 patients with exhaustion depression. The initiator of this major project is the Basel-based entrepreneur Paul Schaub. According to an article in the “Luzerner Zeitung”, around 120 million Swiss francs are estimated for its construction. The present local planning revision was accepted on February 13 by the Vitznau voters with a large majority. Accordingly, the clinic location is no longer in the spa and sports zone, but now in the tourism zone. The canton of Lucerne still has to approve this.

The ENHK had objected to the extension of the health center with its originally planned five larger buildings to the south-east as a “serious impairment” of the protection goals. Two of them are too close to the Rigiweg and the Rigi-Bahn. In the new planning, these merge into a single complex with six connected wings.

The future clinic will only be accessible via the Rigi railway, no parking spaces will be built. Paul Schaub assumes that construction will start in autumn at the latest, “and we expect the opening of operations in 2025”.

May 2022
Apartment house Mira

The start of construction for the Mira apartment building is planned for spring 2022. The facade of the house is inspired by the stucco technique «Sgraffito». This is a historical technique for decorating surfaces. In Switzerland, “Sgraffito” is mainly found in the canton of Graubünden in the Engadin.

The Mira apartment building comprises 18 mezzanine apartments with high ceilings, spiral staircases and generously sized windows. The diverse floor plans of the apartments add a unique and playful touch. The panoramic windows in combination with the double ceiling height give the apartments a loft flair. The 2.5 to 3.5 room apartments include well-equipped common areas, including a ski room, a sauna with a relaxation room and a fitness area.

May 2022
Strickermatte: living and working at the new train station

The Strickermatte development will stretch across several plots opposite the Altdorf cantonal railway station. It turns the area into a dense residential and commercial settlement and aims to use the land reserves sparingly. The superstructure wants to make optimal use of the existing plots of land and fit harmoniously into the existing building structure as a whole.

Seven apartment buildings with 104 apartments, commercial space on the ground floors of the buildings to the south and two underground car parks are planned. The commercial spaces are being created in the front buildings directly on the new station square and are intended to offer interesting offers to passers-by of the station.

The aim of the project is to create living space for people of all ages and attractive outdoor areas that can be used privately and publicly. The apartments have balconies or loggias and a high-quality interior design with parquet floors, built-in cupboards and their own washing tower. The majority of the buildings will be built without obstacles and should thus take into account the requirements of all generations.

With a connection to the district heating network of Heizwerk Uri AG, a photovoltaic system and charging stations for electric vehicles, the buildings meet today’s sustainability standards. A mobility offer with car sharing should also create the possibility of doing without your own car in the future.

The former industrial and commercial buildings have already been demolished and excavation work has begun. The completion of the first new buildings is planned for the end of 2023. The work on the overall development is expected to last around 3.5 years.

The construction project is being developed and implemented by Bricks AG in cooperation with HTS Architekten und Partner AG.

May 2022
Three sustainable residential buildings for the Gotthard road tunnel workers

Since 1980, the Gotthard road tunnel has been the most important Swiss car corridor through the Alps. After more than 40 years of operation, this is in need of renovation. The Federal Roads Office (Astra) is building a second tube by 2029 so that the road connection can be used without interruption despite the repairs. In order to offer the teams involved in the construction optimal accommodation during their assignments, the Astra announced an architecture and investor competition. The contract was awarded to Swiss Property, which developed its project together with the engineering office Pirmin Jung. They convinced the jury with three buildings; two of them in element and one in modular construction as well as a digitized planning and construction with the Timber OS system developed by Swiss Property. This enabled the optimal balance between yield, costs and energy consumption to be calculated.

The three buildings are named Dammastock, Galenstock and Rhonestock. Your future residents are surrounded by rock, concrete, dust and noise every day. For this reason, the rooms were deliberately designed with a high feel-good factor and a warm atmosphere. A main component used in construction is local wood.

The Dammastock is the largest of the three buildings: in 2021, 102 single rooms, each with an area of around 14 square meters, as well as an underground car park were built here. The Dammastock has been ready for occupancy since December 2021. The facade consists of saw-grey spruce and fir wood. The building is to be dismantled in 2032: Thanks to the 105 individual wooden modules used, the Damma
stock can be easily dismantled, transported and reassembled at another location. Possible conversions include a temporary school building, an asylum home or guest rooms.

The other two buildings, Galenstock and Rhonestock, will be erected as hybrid structures with 72 single rooms of 14 square meters each. Both will have a staircase core made of reinforced concrete. The buildings consist of system timber construction elements made of spruce and fir wood and, thanks to the alpine architecture, harmonize perfectly with their surroundings. After the tunnel work, these buildings can be used on the spot in the long term: the interior design allows for an uncomplicated conversion into 16 apartments with areas of 40 to 110 square meters. The three buildings in Göschenen thus create a benefit that goes beyond the tunnel project.

The interior rendering shows what an apartment could look like after conversion.

May 2022
Post-NEAT: Off to new shores!

Two commercial buildings have already been realized in the Grund area of the former NEAT construction site. Other projects are taking shape and spreading a spirit of optimism from Amsteg via Silenen to Bristen. Andermatt has the tourism resort, Altdorf is proud of the canton train station. In order to put the entire canton and all regions in the best light, more lighthouses are needed, according to Silener mayor Hermann Epp: “From 1999 to 2016, AlpTransit Gotthard used this area between Gotthardstrasse and Reuss as an installation site for the construction of the Neat base tunnels. Now we want to work with partners and investors to realize new opportunities for business, leisure, living and tourism on the ground that has been freed up,” says Epp.

In addition to the work yard of a construction company, several projects from the comprehensive plans for the site have already been put into operation. The regional medical and sports center including the restaurant is particularly important to the community. Uri still has the lowest density of doctors in Switzerland. There are also signs of an aging of the population of Uri. The need for medical services is increasing. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult to persuade young doctors to run a practice in a mountain canton. It turns out that group practices with the possibility of part-time work and flexible participation options meet a need of young doctors. The medical center is therefore well suited to ensure and increase the family doctor care for the municipality of Silenen and the middle and upper Reusstal in the long term and sustainably. An open day will take place on August 13, 2022.

More information:
www.silenen.ch
www.az-silenen.ch
www.grundimmobilienag.ch

May 2022
Vertically built craft center in Erstfeld

In industry and in the commercial sector, company buildings are traditionally single-storey in order to enable optimal logistics and to shorten distances. This idea has its origins in a time when land was considered an infinite resource and the car was the focus of planning.

But land is a finite resource. For reasons of sustainability, as little soil as possible should be installed and sealed. The industry must therefore find new ways to minimize sealed ground floor areas without losing flexibility.

The craft center Ha2 in Erstfeld is taking such a path. His concept: It stacks up the space that would otherwise be spread over a single floor. The building consists of a ground floor and two upper floors. The latter are accessed via a ramp that can be driven on by delivery vans. It connects to each floor via an arcade. A goods lift is also available.

The Ha2 Crafts Center not only attaches importance to sustainability when it comes to the construction area. The construction was designed for durability, for example by high interior spaces and the separation of the primary, secondary and tertiary structures. The latter should also put the poor CO2 balance of concrete into perspective. The building shell of the crafts center is made of wood, the sun protection was created constructively. Depending on the user, waste wood chips or groundwater are used for heating. With a joiner’s workshop as a co-user, the building could also be heated exclusively by burning wood chip waste.

The rainwater is collected in a cistern and reused – this saves 40 percent of the fresh water.

The Ha2 Crafts Center aims to be planned and implemented as simply and efficiently as possible. The ground floor is built over height and can be divided into two levels. This ensures more flexibility in use.

The craft center is being built in the commercial zone of the municipality of Erstfeld, north of the town centre, with the NEAT and A2 connections in the immediate vicinity. In the neighborhood there are, among other things, a fish farm and a system technology company.

Small, local craftsmen’s companies should be able to develop in the craftsmen’s center. An important point is therefore the affordability of the areas.

A company uses part of the space for a sanitary exhibition. A takeaway stand is also planned on the ground floor. Also among those interested are a local carpenter’s shop, hemp plant startups, and plumbing and electrical companies.

The craft center Ha2 is currently in the status of the preliminary project. The building permit process is scheduled to begin in June 2022. The move into the building is planned for autumn 2023.

Aerial photo of the micro-location: The location of the crafts center is characterized by the optimal connection to the given traffic routes.

May 2022
New service and commercial arena planned in Werkmatt Uri

Franz Kempf AG wants to move its activities to a new building in Werkmatt Uri, which it intends to build. However, since she will only use a small part of the building on the 7,000 square meter plot, managing director and company owner Franz Kempf is looking for companies that have a need for property or rental space.

The company for plaster, stucco and panel work has too little space at its current location. Kempf also sees great potential in the new location. It is well developed and offers employees a workplace with a high quality of life close to nature. Cooperation with other companies also creates new jobs in the canton of Uri.
In order to address interested parties from all over Switzerland, Kempf advertised in various media in Basel, Zurich, Central Switzerland, Aargau and Ticino. At the moment he is evaluating the interested parties who have contacted us. He doesn’t want to reveal what kind of company they are: “It’s very exciting, but for reasons of discretion I can’t give any information about it yet.”

The new building is to be developed according to the needs of the interested parties. Kempf hopes that the project will start soon and that the commercial space will be available from 2024. The plot in which Kempf would like to build its service and commercial arena is the southernmost one in the Werkmatt. It is located right next to the new motorway junction.

Franz Kempf, Managing Director and owner of Franz Kempf AG.

May 2022
For the best work and life
The Gotthard is a myth, a landmark known throughout Europe, which has been presenting people with supposedly insurmountable challenges for centuries, but which has also driven entire generations to new peak performances. The Gotthard still spurs us on today, not only promoting innovation, but actually demanding it. The name Gotthard radiates north and south, but also beyond our national borders and stands like no other name for durability, robustness, pioneering spirit, innovation and engineering. The brand name Innovationspark Gotthard stands for the symbiosis of stability, durability and strength with creativity, optimism, closeness to nature, community and openness.

New talents want a place of work with prospects for the future, but also base their choice of location on soft factors and look for a top environment for their family, leisure time and relaxation. Regions outside the major centers are establishing themselves as attractive alternatives thanks to a favorable cost environment (taxes, energy, real estate prices). The Canton of Uri is predestined to develop such a living environment and to become attractive for those who have “arrived”.

The Gotthard Innovation Park offers an inspiring environment for the knowledge- and innovation-oriented further development of products and services for companies in “outdoor technology” or in the “nature, energy and innovation” sectors.

It focuses on companies that want to offer their talents (Gen Y, Gen Z) living and flexible working in an intact environment with a wide range of sports and cultural activities “on their doorstep”.

Possible are:
- Shared services (spatially: reception, cafeteria, meeting room, etc. as well as content: administrative services). The company can concentrate on its main activity.
- Fab Lab (offer for small series, 3D printer, simulation and coaching, operating concepts, processes, etc.)
- Inspiration spaces to promote innovation in mutual interaction
- Clean rooms, rooms for mech. Manufacturing, experimental laboratories, test centers
- office space
- Flexible, open areas (engineering, testing, production, administration) characterize the intended use. It differs from a pure office space offer.
May 2022
Business opportunity Werkmatt Uri

The Canton of Uri and the municipality of Altdorf are opening up new business opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors in the Werkmatt Uri Land. Industrial, commercial and service companies will find flexible options here. More than 1,000 value-added jobs are to be created here in the future.

Sustainable economic development
As the owner, the Canton of Uri is striving for a win-win situation with future investors, owners and users in the area. The public sector therefore invested a double-digit million amount in the area between the future cantonal railway station and the new Altdorf Süd half-way junction. The plots of land can be purchased or acquired with building rights.

The first plots have already been sold and the first development stage has been completed. In the next few years, further building plots are to be sold step by step and built on. The canton is developing the Werkmatt Uri area in a coordinated manner so that sustainable economic uses are created in the overall regional interest. The district design plan serves investors and companies willing to build as an owner-binding, plot-specific planning instrument. It sets guidelines in terms of use, design, infrastructure and, in particular, job density.

Noticeable increasing interest
Interest in the Werkmatt Uri has increased again with the opening of the cantonal railway station in December 2021. The two listed buildings, the “Sackmagazin” by the architect Robert Maillart and the “Silomagazin” by the architect Eduard Züblin, have already been sold. Exciting collections of art objects can now be found where the federal government used to stack grain sacks for emergencies. Kässbohrer Schweiz AG, a manufacturer of off-road vehicles, is the first company to buy a plot of land and build on it. Other exciting projects are being planned – as the following articles in this magazine illustrate.

May 2022
A new urbanity is emerging at the Altdorf train station

«With this residential and commercial building, we focused on a sustainable concept. Ecology, economy and social issues are in harmony. With “Cubo”, the focus is on the social and functional mix of the building. This is achieved with diverse and communal forms of use. With these future-oriented approaches, incentives are created for the establishment of new places of work and life in the region,” explains René Chappuis, management of the responsible CAS Group. The approach is convincing. The apartments and office space were rented out within a very short time. The opportunity to meet in the building in everyday life is particularly popular with commuters and newcomers.

Staircase as a meeting zone
The cubic building shell encloses two commercial floors, four residential floors and an attic floor. A total of 36 high-quality rental units with 2.5 to 4.5 rooms have been realized. “Encounter, exchange and the opportunity for joint meetings characterize the room concept. The building surprises with a very generous access zone. The atrium, which is lit by daylight, also serves as a meeting place to promote social exchange between the residents,” explains Helen Chappuis, Management and Head of Architecture. To promote social communication, the laundry room is also located on the ground floor and designed as a washable area.

Green electricity from the roof
During the planning, a high priority was given to sustainability. The building has a modern wooden facade and is heated with a groundwater heat pump, which is fed via the photovoltaic system installed on the flat roof. Charging stations for electric cars can easily be made available in the garage. The PV system with an output of 36 kilowatts produces around 34,000 kilowatt hours of green electricity per year. This means that around six tons of CO2 emissions can be avoided per year, which corresponds to around 42,000 kilometers driven by car. As part of an association for self-consumption (ZEV), the solar power is consumed on site as far as possible. In summer, excess solar power flows back into the grid, in winter additional energy is drawn from the public grid. Thanks to this innovative concept, the tenants receive solar power from their own roof, which costs even less than mains power.

May 2022
Intergenerational living

The new and modern building extends along the Gründligasse and the Allenwindenweg, which is precisely and subtly integrated into the existing environment. On behalf of TMA Immobilien AG, hts architekten + partner ag from Altdorf have realized a dense yet small-scale development that creates modern living space, new alleys, squares and open spaces that are both private and public and can be used and played individually. Intermediate spaces allow views of the surroundings and views of the surrounding mountains. The identity-forming element of the Almausa walls, typical of Altdorf, was included in several places. It accompanies you through the whole district.

The differentiated range of apartments, consisting of terraced single-family houses, semi-detached single-family houses and small multi-family houses, generates a good mix of residents of different age groups. A total of 51 new residential units (apartments and maisonettes) were built. At the end of the construction work, the barn on Trögligasse will be converted into a single-family home. Despite the different building volumes and the elongated and winding plot situation, the superstructure convinces with a uniform appearance. The houses, built in solid construction, meet increased energy requirements and are connected to the district heating network. The beige brushed plaster and the perforated sheet metal serving as privacy and fall protection give the facade of the new housing estate a special character.

While the external appearance was defined by the district design plan, the interior design was carried out individually according to the buyer’s wishes. All residential units have a private outdoor space and they all share the park in the center of the quarter. Great importance was attached to a natural environment designed with native plants. In the public park, all paths and squares were designed with unpaved materials in order to leave as much space as possible for nature. Tall trees offer natural shade and invite you to stay.

Apart from the seven terraced single-family houses along Gründligasse, all residential units have their parking spaces in 2 garages. As a result, there is as little additional traffic in the district as possible, and a lot of outdoor space can be offered. The car-free lanes and squares invite the children of the development and the surrounding districts to play outside carefree.

May 2022
Untere Turmmatt: New urban district with eight apartment buildings

A new urban quarter is being created in Altdorf with the “Untere Turmmatt” residential development. Eight multi-family houses with 108 apartments are to be carefully integrated into the townscape via the height gradation and form the transition from the residential area to the industrial area.

A new park-like inner courtyard with native trees and grass is being created between the apartment buildings as a meeting zone. Playgrounds, alleyways, lounge areas and seating invite residents to linger and promote exchange within the development.

The clearly structured facade of the residential development has a homely character thanks to details such as rounded edges, textile plaster and French windows. Intensive green roof gardens are being created on the roofs of the superstructure.

The residential development is to be built in three stages. The first stage is currently being completed. It comprises four apartment buildings with a total of 64 residential units, consisting of storey, attic and maisonette apartments. The apartments vary in size from 3.5 to 6.5 rooms. All apartments have a weather-protected private outdoor space in the form of a balcony or loggia. Some apartments also have direct access to the roof gardens. In March 2022, the first 20 apartments were handed over to their buyers. The next 15 apartments will follow in June and another 11 in October. The remaining apartments should be ready for occupancy in April 2023.

The second construction phase is in preparation. It comprises two apartment buildings, one of which will be used for rent. The start of construction of the second phase is planned for autumn 2022. The third construction phase with another two apartment buildings is planned for 2024 and 2025.

The new district is accessed via Fabrikstrasse and via pedestrian paths from Hellgasse and Turmmattweg. The apartment buildings are directly connected to the underground car parks. There are public transport stops near the building.

May 2022
A modern hospital at the foot of the Gotthard

The canton of Uri is building a new regional hospital that will serve as a model. After three years of construction, the new Cantonal Hospital Uri (KSU) will open in June 2022. Uri thus sets a record: The new hospital is the largest building construction project that the canton has ever implemented as a builder. The hospital in the main town of Altdorf is a generational work that will secure and improve the health care of the population for years to come. From the architecture to the design to the execution: the new building of the KSU is geared towards the current and future needs of the canton of Uri. “With this investment, we are securing basic medical care in Uri for future generations. The workers on the construction site worked very hard. Thanks to their commitment, difficulties such as the corona pandemic could be overcome on the construction site. In addition, regular hospital operations were able to continue unhindered,” says government councilor Roger Nager.

New shell, new interior
Thanks to the investment, the cantonal hospital in Uri can play its role as a medical competence center in the future. The KSU will gain in medical treatment: In the future, patients will have short distances, comfortable rooms, more privacy, modern examination rooms and good service. The team from Darlington Meier Architects, Zurich, has succeeded in creating a compact, independent and stylish building. The new building is surrounded by a large hospital park. The building carefully creates a new, strong identity. In this way, visitors or patients can find their way around quickly and easily. This is achieved through the careful use of material, light and colour. You can see daylight everywhere in the new building, even in the operating theaters you can see the imposing mountains of Uri. As an important base, the KSU also ensures emergency care along the north-south axis for people who do not live in Uri.

Huge public support
On September 24, 2017, 85.5 percent of the Uri voters approved the construction loan for the conversion and new construction of the cantonal hospital. Roger Nager is convinced: “The patients and the approximately 600 employees of the cantonal hospital will feel comfortable in the new building”.

May 2022
A wooden chalet trio for the highest demands

All three charming wooden chalets are connected with a passage. Behind the construction project is a comprehensive concept that focuses on sustainable tourism. At the same time, the Berg-Academy is set up, offering courses in the areas of healthy people, a healthy environment and sustainable entrepreneurship. The Academy will conduct the “live seminars” in the Berglodge37. External seminar providers can hold their own seminars on the Eggberge. Companies and organizations book the lodge for internal seminars in the mentioned areas. Adults looking for peace and quiet can use the place for a personal pit stop, a “digital detox” or simply for a few days of relaxation.

With the Berglodge37, the two operators fulfilled a dream: “This heart project has been dormant in us for a long time,” says Ruth Koch. “Operating a mountain oasis where curious people can meet and be inspired is our common dream,” adds Martin Reichle. When building the Berglodge37, great importance was attached to an optimal energy balance and a lot of regional “moon wood” was used, wood felled during the waning moon. According to an ETH study, this wood has been proven to have a wide variety of positive properties such as better stability, better durability, fire resistance, hardness and resistance to pests. When it came to choosing the furniture, only the best was good enough. All rooms are equipped with bed systems from the Swiss manufacturer Leibundgut from the Bernese Oberland. The world’s only bed with automatic shape adjustment to every body shape and sleeping position offers perfect sleeping comfort and guarantees the best relaxation.

As a consistently sustainable business, Berglodge37 relies on vegetarian cuisine. Guests should be able to experience that vegetarian food can taste just as good as dishes containing meat. The lodge sees itself as an innovative employer in the canton of Uri. This is reflected in the choice of employees, who practically all come from the region. The opening of the Berglodge37 is planned for mid-July 2022. More information: www.berglodge37.com.

May 2022
Research at the epicenter of the latest developments

Shortly before the first lockdown in February 2020, the Institute for Alpine Cultures was officially opened. After several years of competitive selection procedures, an important beacon of the Uri government began to shine. With the new institute, university research was stationed in the canton itself for the first time in the history of Uri. A university institution was deliberately chosen because it guarantees every level of university qualification through to doctorate and habilitation thanks to the connection to the University of Lucerne.

The institute concentrates thematically on the entire arc of the Alps from Nice via Innsbruck to Ljubljana with a special anchoring in the Gotthard region. In this way, economic and social developments can be observed not only as a special case, but also in comparison. The aim is to learn from history in order to develop the best future scenarios. So it’s not just about navel gazing, but about a panoramic view in the middle of Switzerland, in the middle of Europe.

The canton has made the best choice with its cultural-historical anchoring: in dialogue with the local population, with economic and political decision-makers, the advantages of the region are specifically determined and further developed, which with the focus on the Alps are no longer on the supposed periphery, but in the epicenter of new developments. In view of the challenges in tourism, alpine and energy management, the institute has now found a reliable partner who guarantees scientific and objectivity.

It goes without saying that the Institute is not an ivory tower. On the contrary: the exchange between expert knowledge and experience is what really drives the institute’s work. As a result, cultural historians, legal scholars, energy economists, political scientists, philosophers, archaeologists – the list is not final – not only face a constant exchange between the disciplines, but also revise and specialize their theses thanks to local cooperation.

Showcases for this work are regular events and excursions – be it to the Urner Boden or to the Steingletscher – under expert guidance from all over Switzerland. And more and more commissioned studies end up in the Altdorf office, which, thanks to the institute’s unique network of experts from Germany and abroad, meet the highest scientific standards. The message has long since reached the research community: the lighthouse is shining.

May 2022