City West complex zurich - Zölly Tower

Project Study 2003 – 2009

The Zölly high-rise evolves, the same as the other two high-rises – the Prime Tower and the Mobimo Tower – from the geometry of a polygon. The obtuse angles defy any generation of corners and boundary definitions, while their free position defines a polyphonic triad within the silhouette of City West. The vertical prisms of the high-rises are in a balanced relationship with the horizontal ends of the buildings on the site, with the elevated figure of the Maaghof as its centre. The Zölly building, which is almost as high as the Mobimo Tower but with a smaller floor area, is the keystone of the new residential area and simultaneously provides a link to the free grounds of Pfingstweidpark.

The two-storey base slightly projects towards the southeast and, along with the lobby hall, orients itself towards the square and the direct access to the biking and pedestrians’ path of the “curved track”. Characteristic for the overall appearance are however the front-side 3.5-room and 4.5-room flats with their 1.5-storey high rooms and open loggias at the corners of the building. On the intermediate floors, two 2.5-room flats surround these excessively high rooms and show at the building corners and along the folds of the longitudinal façades. This inner sectional principle is repeated over three floors and finds its conclusion in the minimally higher than usual penthouse flats. The same order is expressed by the repeated rhythm of the striking horizontal bands, which penetrate the vertical pilaster strips. On the longitudinal façades, the relief consisting of differently deep surfaces is continued by the ends of the window-sills. The sand-blasted surfaces of the double-layered concrete elements with gleaming white marble as aggregate and darkened cement paint imbue the Zölly high-rise with its own nobility, without a hint of envy of the glass and travertine claddings of its neighbours.

LOCATION: Zurich

PROJECT: 2009–2014

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Losinger Marazzi GU, Zurich

MEILI, PETER ARCHITEKTEN:

Marcel Meili, Markus Peter

Nathanaël Chollet, Jürg Spaar;
Alex Cazurra, Michael Grunitz, Elitsa Lacaze, John Lemmenmeier,
Patrycja Okuljar-Sowa, Christof Weber

EXECUTION IN CO-OPERATION WITH:
Plan | Werk GmbH, Laufen (since February 2012)

ENGINEERS: BG Ingenieure und Berater AG, Baar

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY: Balzer Ingenieure AG, Winterthur

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING: Scherler AG, Zurich

BUILDING PHYSICS: Mühlebach Akustik + Bauphysik, Wiesendangen

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: Rotzler Krebs Partner Landschaftsarchitekten, Winterthur