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Office and Commercial Building
"zur Schanze"
Talstrasse / Pelikanstrasse, Zürich
1961 - 1962
When the construction
consortium "Zur Schanze" commissioned the architects
to examine a new building development in the area of
the so-called Schanzengraben in 1955 , the question arose if this could still be planned in the manner of a conventional perimeter development with 20 m
eaves height along the streets. After various considerations and negotiations an adjacent parcel could be gained. In respect to the urban planning perspectives,
this increased surface resulted in enhanced possibilities for the new project. Further meetings with the authorities revealed that the botanical garden,
owned by the Canton of Zurich, had to be preserved in its size as a park and recreation area. Also the mentioned Schanzengraben, which is typical for Zurich,
remains as an open water and was intended to get an increasingly important role as water and green vein. Considering these circumstances, a general study
was elaborated in collaboration with the city authorities. At this time it was concluded that a development of the buildings in the vertical direction would be favourable.
After this assessment, horizontal cubes would result in cramped and closed spaces. Especially since two other high-rise buildings were already realized in
the neighborhood, the imagination of a group of high-rise constructions in this section of the Schanzengraben seemed to be convincing. The employed studies
sought to distribute the building volume allowed by the regulations, so that arises an exterior space as generous as possible. Based on these studies
a high-rise building was planned also on the grounds of the parcel "Zur Schanze".
With regard to the expected development of the area the ground floor allows the connection between Schanzengraben and Talstrasse. This connection is made
by two pedestrian passages. Various commercial establishments occupy the completely glazed ground floor rooms, so that the Talstrasse gets an additional
valorization as a shopping street. In the typical floor plan of the skyscraper it was fougth for every square inch in the interest of good economic use.
The municipal regulations required two staircases abutting to the outer front. Both were planned in the minimum dimensions, as in high-rise buildings
the elevators make the main part of the vertical movement and as it seems not necessary to provide a representative staircase in the traditional sense.
The core of the skyscraper contains, in a concentrated form, the elevators, the chimneys of the heating and ventilation as well as sanitary facilities.
This commercial and office building, designed by Werner Stücheli, is constructed as a composite structure of reinforced concrete and steel. On the ground floor,
as well as in the high-rise section, the peripheral vertical supporting elements are made of steel. In the shops this results in an increased window area for presentations,
on the upper floors this construction allows a maximization of the floor area. All horizontal structural elements are constructed as reinforced concrete slabs with flat beams.
The façade of the skyscraper is strongly horizontal structured by strip windows. The balustrades are made of brightly enamelled aluminum sheets.
The building reaches a height of 43.1 m above the street level.
the so-called Schanzengraben in 1955 , the question arose if this could still be planned in the manner of a conventional perimeter development with 20 m
eaves height along the streets. After various considerations and negotiations an adjacent parcel could be gained. In respect to the urban planning perspectives,
this increased surface resulted in enhanced possibilities for the new project. Further meetings with the authorities revealed that the botanical garden,
owned by the Canton of Zurich, had to be preserved in its size as a park and recreation area. Also the mentioned Schanzengraben, which is typical for Zurich,
remains as an open water and was intended to get an increasingly important role as water and green vein. Considering these circumstances, a general study
was elaborated in collaboration with the city authorities. At this time it was concluded that a development of the buildings in the vertical direction would be favourable.
After this assessment, horizontal cubes would result in cramped and closed spaces. Especially since two other high-rise buildings were already realized in
the neighborhood, the imagination of a group of high-rise constructions in this section of the Schanzengraben seemed to be convincing. The employed studies
sought to distribute the building volume allowed by the regulations, so that arises an exterior space as generous as possible. Based on these studies
a high-rise building was planned also on the grounds of the parcel "Zur Schanze".
With regard to the expected development of the area the ground floor allows the connection between Schanzengraben and Talstrasse. This connection is made
by two pedestrian passages. Various commercial establishments occupy the completely glazed ground floor rooms, so that the Talstrasse gets an additional
valorization as a shopping street. In the typical floor plan of the skyscraper it was fougth for every square inch in the interest of good economic use.
The municipal regulations required two staircases abutting to the outer front. Both were planned in the minimum dimensions, as in high-rise buildings
the elevators make the main part of the vertical movement and as it seems not necessary to provide a representative staircase in the traditional sense.
The core of the skyscraper contains, in a concentrated form, the elevators, the chimneys of the heating and ventilation as well as sanitary facilities.
This commercial and office building, designed by Werner Stücheli, is constructed as a composite structure of reinforced concrete and steel. On the ground floor,
as well as in the high-rise section, the peripheral vertical supporting elements are made of steel. In the shops this results in an increased window area for presentations,
on the upper floors this construction allows a maximization of the floor area. All horizontal structural elements are constructed as reinforced concrete slabs with flat beams.
The façade of the skyscraper is strongly horizontal structured by strip windows. The balustrades are made of brightly enamelled aluminum sheets.
The building reaches a height of 43.1 m above the street level.