Within sight of our office, on the wooded moraine hill that stretches from the historic center of Wiedikon to Binz, lies the former headquarters of the Zurich Life Insurance Company. Its relocation to Mythenquai at the end of 2021 opened up the opportunity to realize residential buildings, which were occupied in 2024. A selective study contract was awarded for this project in 2019 together with WSG and Balliana Schubert Landscape Architects.
In the 19th century, the Uetliberg Brewery was built on this very prominent site. It was bought and closed in 1921 by Hürlimann, its direct competitor from the other bank of the Sihl. In the 1980s, the insurance company acquired the property and built its headquarters, which is now making way for the residential development. A Belt Walk leads around two elongated, multi-angled structures that enclose the hill and follow its topography.
This creates a coherent and therefore distinctive landscape – the forest garden. A delicate, bud-like balcony layer and a protective, reflective, bark-like ceramic facade translate the forest theme into the buildings and allow the living areas to flow seamlessly into the outdoor space. The interior structure of the buildings is orthogonally organized and contrasts with the complex building layout. A variety of residential typologies are created that appeal to a broad public and thus contribute to a mixed use. Along Austrasse, another building fits into the overarching urban structure of the houses along the street.
