Verdict in design competition for Zentrum Papiermühle in Ittigen
The municipality of Ittigen, Steiner Investment Foundation and Steiner AG jointly staged a design competition for the focal development site Zentrum Papiermühle. The jury unanimously recommends pursuing the proposals submitted by the team comprising architectural practice E2A Piet Eckert und Wim Eckert Architekten, landscape architect Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur and engineer Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure.
Prelude to redevelopment at Papiermühle traffic hub
The Zentrum Papiermühle site is centrally located in the Papiermühle district of the municipality of Ittigen, close to the S-Bahn rapid transit station of the same name. The site fronts Worblentalstrasse and directly overlooks the road junction between Papiermühlestrasse, Grauholzstrasse and Worblentalstrasse.
An urban design solution for the site (use, development, infrastructure provision) was formulated as early as 2014. This then served as the basis for amendments to the planning instruments governing the site, i.e. the masterplan for the focal development site Ittigen-Papiermühle, zoning plan, planning regulations and associated development order. The design competition was staged as an authoritative procedure involving the municipal bodies for the procurement of a convincing local planning, architectural and functional solution for the site.
Five design teams comprising architects, landscape architects and structural engineers were invited to participate. The jury, chaired by Michael Geschwentner (Steib Gmür Geschwentner Kyburz partners plc architects & urban planners), evaluated the proposed schemes in relation to the goals set out in the competition brief plus numerous criteria including urban design, architecture, open spaces, infrastructure provision, styling, use, cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Particular importance was also given to compelling, high-quality apartment layouts.
Appraisal of winning scheme
In the jury's opinion, a notable merit of the proposals put forward by E2A Piet Eckert und Wim Eckert Architekten AG is the shrewd urban disposition that lends the location a strong identity with intriguing spatial qualities and the required degree of public access. The scheme was unanimously recommended for further development.
Starting from a precise analysis of the urban context, the architects develop a volumetric arrangement of high-rise and linear block with a well-proportioned surrounding precinct that responds to the prevailing topography and offers a prestigious address for commercial and residential occupancies.
The high-ceilinged ground floor lends the high-rise an assured presence while the interior adeptly echoes the site's split levels. The newly created precinct combines with the ground-floor premises to create a strong public focus capable of unlocking and energising the location. The linear block additionally benefits from the open space to the rear. The filigree high-rise exterior engages with the slender members of the timberwork linear block to establish a harmonious relationship between the two volumes.
Invited design teams
The following five design teams (listed in alphabetical order) took part in the competition:
- Armon Semadeni Architekten / METTLER Landschaftsarchitektur / Syntaxis AG (with Holzbaubüro Reusser GmbH as subsidiary company)
- Bauart Architekten und Planer AG / Chaves Biedermann GmbH / wh-p Ingenieure AG
- Büro B Architekten AG / David Bosshard Landschaftsarchitekten AG / Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG
- E2A Piet Eckert und Wim Eckert Architekten AG / Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur / Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG
- HBF HUGGENBERGERFRIES Architekten AG / bbz bern gmbh landschaftsarchitekten bsla / ZPF Consulting AG
Public display of competition proposals
The proposed schemes of all participating design practices will be on display to the general public until Wednesday 25 May 2022 on the ground floor of the municipal service centre at Rain 7 in 3063 Ittigen.
Steiner Investment Foundation
Headquartered in Zurich, Steiner Investment Foundation is an investment foundation governed by Swiss law. Its real estate projects provide a profitable, long-term investment vehicle for the assets of pension funds from across Switzerland. The Foundation's assets comprise properties of various sizes, now worth over CHF 1 billion, in German- and French-speaking Switzerland. Since 1 November 2019, Steiner Investment Foundation has been a member of KGAST, the conference of investment foundation managers. Members of KGAST commit to quality, transparency, safety and co-determination.
Steiner AG
Steiner AG is a leading real estate service provider with a focus on project development and construction. Founded in 1915, it has its headquarters in Zurich and is represented by branches in Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Tolochenaz and Geneva. With a development portfolio worth more than
CHF 6 billion, Steiner is one of Switzerland's largest real estate developers. Its portfolio comprises a wide range of residential, office, industrial and logistics projects plus proprietary product innovations such as the Werkarena, Manufakt and Steiner Student Hotel brands. In French-speaking Switzerland, Steiner Construction is the market leader in real estate construction working on the total (design-and-build) and general contractor principle. Steiner AG contributes its 100-plus years of experience to the two recently established business areas: Steiner Financial Initiatives for new investment solutions, and Steiner Digital for digital collaboration platforms serving properties' entire life cycles.
Information for the media
Steiner AG
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +41 58 445 20 00, corpcom@steiner.ch
Municipality of Ittigen
Marco Rupp, Municipal Chairman
Tel.: +41 31 925 22 22
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Visualisation
In the opinion of the assessment panel, the project contribution by E2A Piet Eckert and Wim Eckert Architekten AG for the development of the "Zentrum Papiermühle" site in Ittigen is characterised by a clever urban design.
