Building Technology and Construction BUK
Lectureship Daniel Mettler / Daniel Studer
Winter 2022, Focus Work
A constructive location (base, wall, opening or roof) is documented on the basis of an object under construction. In this context, the building must generate its architectural expression through the construction. The chosen constructive location is studied on the basis of plans and documented as an axonometric representation, staggered according to the construction process on a scale of 1:5.
The H1 high-rise of Boltshauser Architekten Zürich is part of Peter Märkli’s master plan for the Bahnhof Nord development area in Regensdorf, Switzerland. Located near Zurich and adjacent to a pavilion designed by Lütjens Padmanabhan Architects, the high-rise stands at a height of approximately 75 meters and is characterized by its narrow side facing Zwhatt Plaza. The building’s entrance is protected by an arcade that extends across three sides, creating a welcoming and spatially-responsive space that connects to the surrounding pavilion and longitudinal building.
The ground levels of the high-rise feature an entrance hall with a reception area and bistro, as well as a co-working space. Above these base levels, a variety of flat typologies are available to accommodate a wide range of usage profiles. These flats are organized into six- to eight-part units around an access core and feature a modular design that allows for both horizontal and vertical flexibility. The building’s load-bearing wooden posts and beams, as well as its clay plaster floors and lime or clay plaster walls, are all visible within the flats.
The high-rise’s metal façade is also characterized by a modular structure, with horizontally-projecting photovoltaic elements on all sides that serve as a protective breeze-soleil to prevent overheating and maximize the use of natural daylight. The reddish metal profiles of the façade are punctuated by a variety of window divisions that hint at the building’s internal use, while the inclusion of loggias adds depth and solidity to the overall design.
The H1 high-rise is constructed with a concrete skeleton structure for the basement and base storeys and a timber hybrid construction for the upper storeys. The solid base is clad in reddish trass lime, with concrete supports rising up to support the timber construction above. On the third floor, non-continuous columns are supported by wall panels and a circumferential covering, while the remaining upper floors utilize a timber hybrid construction with storey ceilings made of a timber-concrete composite material supported by timber columns. The building’s foundation is reinforced by a concrete core that transfers horizontal loads from wind and earthquakes. The façade is made of wooden elements clad in metal, with the metal substructure attached to the wood on site and moved as modular units to minimize resource usage and CO2 emissions. The timber hybrid construction is estimated to save 20% (670 tonnes of CO2) in the supporting structure over the building’s 60-year lifespan. The H1 high-rise is designed to be energy-efficient, with local heating and cooling provided by groundwater heat pumps and a passive building services concept that allows for natural ventilation of the flats.
