Central 2 office building, Zürich (CH)
New building
Client: Immobilien Paradeplatz Zürich AG
Architecture: Dietrich Untertrifaller
Design: Helmut Dietrich
Study: 2020 (invited study contract)
Area: 3,560 m²
Programme: Offices, co-working space, café
Visualisation: Dietrich Untertrifaller
Team
Lucy Kalhofer, Lara Kaufmann, Bo-Ram Lee, Peter Nußbaumer, Martina Simoncini, Michael Sohm
Text: Gerlinde Jüttner
Partners
Statics: Merz Kley Partner, Dornbirn
Building services: Amstein + Walthert, Zurich
Striking head-end building redefines the square
The modern, sustainable office building on Zurich Central, one of the most important transport hubs in the city centre, is a chance to redefine this square in terms of urban development. Our design for the striking, trapezoidal head-end building forms the prelude along two important transport axes as "house on the square".
The grid-shaped, ceramic-clad façade appears elegant and simple, with refined details such as differently bevelled window reveals. Wide, deep supports compensate for the large, floor-to-ceiling glazing of the two-storey plinth and lend it a stability that inspires confidence. The three-part, narrow square façade with the recessed attic storey gives the building on Central a distinctive appearance.
Prefabricated timber construction
Due to the very cramped site and the limited space available for site equipment, timber construction is the ideal solution. The lightweight timber construction enables a high degree of prefabrication and therefore a fast and low-emission building process. The timber construction remains visible in the interior. The surfaces (floors, acoustic ceilings, partition walls) made of wood not only fulfil the building's high standards of sustainability and careful use of resources, but also the atmosphere and quality of life in the working environment.
Flexible spatial organisation
The two-storey base houses a café and the coworking space. A separate entrance leads to the office floors. A solid access core at the rear of the building guarantees structural reinforcement. The floor plans allow flexible use of the office space.
