Overhauling modernism

The existing façade was fully renovated after being completely stripped down to its concrete shell. The challenge was to limit the construction period to an absolute minimum. It was also essential to coordinate the planning of work carried out on the stone, concrete elements and blinds and to create seamless intersections between them.

The building is L-shaped and divided into seven floors with exterior and courtyard façades as well as buildings adjoining both sides. On the ground floor, a post-and-beam construction was erected in multiple stages. The operations of the various tenants were only interrupted for a few days. Revolving doors serve as an entrance for customers of the main tenant of the building.

On the first up to fifth floors, full-length new aluminium strip windows have been installed. The stone panels removed during dismantling were able to be reused by the stone contractor. These panels were installed horizontally between our window elements in a manner akin to the old façade. For the window partitions, vertical concrete elements are used externally. These elements conceal the blind guide mechanisms and allowed the style of the old façade to be preserved.

The attic floor, with floor-to-ceiling glazing, is set back from the exterior façade. The gap between the two serves as a terrace with views over Zurich and Lake Zurich.

The entire ground floor was built to resistance class RC3, the remaining floors to RC2. All windows are triple-glazed using insulated clear glass.

BKP 215 façade engineering performance, Krapf AG:

• All exterior glazing, windows, doors, lift-and-slide doors
• Metal end plates
• Window sills, blind boxes, vertical blind profiles as building profiles

Project manager: Patrick Senteler
Owner: Immobilienanlagestiftung Turidomus Pensimo AG, Obstgartenstr. 19, 8006 Zurich
Architect: Architekturbüro Märkli Peter, Albisriederstrasse 232, 8047 Zurich

See our reference gallery for more pictures of Bleicherweg 21