Housing Neufrankengasse
HOUSING NEUFRANKENGASSE
Em2n
AREA
5800.0 m²
YEAR
2008
LOCATION
Zurich, Switzerland
CATEGORY
Housing
Text description provided by architect.
The project is developed out of its exciting location between two extremes: the inner city Kreis 5 (District 5) and a large area of railway tracks.
This expansiveness of this “lake of a different kind” gives the place its exceptional quality.
The layered structure of the building reacts in both plan and section to the external circumstances.
Bedrooms and loggias face south and look onto the quiet courtyard.
Entrance halls, wet rooms and cloakrooms are centrally positioned. Living and dining areas profit from the expansive nature of the area of tracks.
Depending on their position in the building some of them are double-height, the apartments at the lower levels profit from an added spatial value.
Generously-dimensioned loggias connect the spacious living areas to the courtyard. Access to the building and the three staircases is from Langstrasse and from the courtyard through a plinth level that receives daylight.
The architectural expression presents the internal structure. Towards the wide area of railway tracks a number of large window openings permeate the regularity of the façade.
The calm façade facing the more intimate courtyard makes repetitive use of openings of the same size. Here the staggered positioning of the balconies suggests something of the animated interior.
