The objective of this competition was to transform an existing industrial hall, turning it into an inspiring training hub for knowledge sharing for an international company.
The historic ABB halls in Oerlikon prevail as significant architectural testaments to Zurich's industrial past. Their cultural relevance is further accentuated due to their proximity to the commercial and residential areas of Neu-Oerlikon. Following a revision of updated building regulations, these halls are now permanently preserved and, for the most part, designated as protected structures.
A standardised 20-foot shipping container is transformed into a building block for an architectural intervention: A stepped tower rises 9 units up from a 5 x 2-unit base.
Spillmann Echsle’s interior fit-out for On, a collaboration with Specific Generic of Stockholm, reflects the architectural logic of the building as a whole and forms a spatial link between the two different worlds of product development housed within: the “lab”, which occupies the structure’s four-storey base, and the “neighbourhoods” above, where marketing, logistics, and sales activities take place.
Through this intervention, the main building, the ancillary building, and the new basement are merged into one unit, while at the same time, the independent expression of the individual parts is strengthened.
spillmann echsle’s refurbishment of a former production facility prioritizes horizontal and vertical flexibility to accommodate various use cases, where the ease of installation and de-installation of the floor and partitioning elements is paramount.
The characteristic urban morphology of the Heuried residential district in Alt-Wiedikon was established in the late 1940s post-war building boom, when perimeter developments transitioned to housing blocks, and vast green spaces emerged, providing park-like residential settings that remain a signature of this district in Zurich. The typology of this intervention, which is currently under construction, embodies an essentially linear design.
A 300-square-meter detached family house sits on an incline at the periphery of Üsslingen, Switzerland. The home is built as a sustainable, prefabricated timber structure atop a pre-cast concrete basement, while the existing topography shapes its placement.
The Radiostudio Brunnenhof complex, located in Zurich’s sixth district, was built in two phases: the first by Otto Dürr from 1932–1937 and the second by Willy Rost and Max Bill in 1967 and today, parts of the complex are listed. With the surrounding Unterstrass neighbourhood experiencing rapid growth and changes, there's an increasing demand for educational spaces and associated programs such as after-school programming. Once the complex is vacated by the radio studio, the building ensemble will be converted into a secondary school and a music center.
The new six room construction comprises of an attic level, two main floors and an underground garage. Its formal architectural vocabulary is clear, authentic and unadorned.
A concert hall constructed from simple and inexpensive spruce wood was inserted as a wooden box in a former production hall. In the intermediate area outside the wooden vessel and within the industrial building’s walls, visitors see the raw and honest character of the elementary wooden construction.
The military barracks of Zürich are integrated into an extensive compound designed according to the master plan by Johann Caspar Wolff. The northern side of the compound is comprised of stables, a riding arena, depots, the parade ground and the armoury, organized in a staggered, axial arrangement. The grounds extend over the River Sihl, connecting the city centre and the Aussersihl district.
From the jury: "The large-scale project boasts avant-garde spatial designs that have a fascinating appeal. [...] The complexity that arises from the size of the project and the large number of participants was coordinated in an exemplary manner by the group of design players and driven to a manifold result that is of impressive quality down to the smallest details."
The renovation of a home from the 1950s offers a lesson in spatial economy.
Given the stipulated high-rise typology and its strategic placement at the juncture of the Altstetten, Albisrieden, and Aussersihl districts, this tower design is highly visible from afar and, with its design, introduces a building form that is consistent with its urban surroundings.
Tanzwerk houses the kinesthetic program of Switzerland’s largest dance school, dividing the space into 12 dance studios, a large performance auditorium and workrooms with various service areas.
On Labs at Zürich West has been picked by the Archdaily community is the year's best project for office spaces.
To accommodate creative professionals, Spillmann Echsle's strategy for this adaptive re-use of the warehouse into an office and studio framework named "Creative Hub" considerably repairs the existing spaces by stripping away double floors, suspended ceilings, and partition walls.
Roots, the vegan restaurant which also serves as the canteen for On Running’s team, is housed on the first floor of the Atmos high-rise building in Zurich West, home to 17 floors of On's offices.
The House of Switzerland is a mobile building that serves a diplomatic function representing Switzerland’s prfessional sporting interests, traveling to various international locations. Its wooden construction displays a concurrence between traditional carpentry and state of the art timber engineering. The largely standardized construction consists of 193 elements, manifesting a clear, tectonic expression.
The listed Haus Zur Sommerau in Uetikon near Zurich stands on a ridge next to school buildings, a community center, and the Uetikon church hill. The property is defined by its large garden, featuring "Brezelwegen" pathways, plant beds, enclosures, and historical gates reminiscent of grand bourgeois residences.
The Freitag factory in Zurich-Oerlikon is housed in the Noerd commercial building. Featuring production facilities and design studios, as well as logistics and administration, the floor, 10’000-square-meter space accommodates over 120 employees. The facility also includes a staff canteen and a factory shop.
Together with the neighbouring building at Albisriederstrasse 226, the commercial building designed by Rudolf Kuhn in 1947 forms an architectural ensemble whose consistent urban appearance represents a piece of Zurich’s industrial architecture. The subtle façade modulations, the rhythmic design of the stair towers and the large and bright entrance areas are typical of the late 1940s.
Adjacent to Zurich Main Station railway tracks, the interior fit-out of Google’s Building G marks the next phase of the firm’s office expansion following the successful completion of the Sihlpost Zurich.