Lengen Hajdarevic Architektur . photos: © Federico Farinatti
The office building in the heart of Uitikon-Waldegg was converted into a residential building with six
apartments. Through specific interventions, the building structure was adapted to the new use.
Design idea
Deficits and possible potentials were identified through detailed examination. In essence, the design approach was to change the spatial qualities of the interior and the expression of the building to the outside in such a way that they corresponded to the new use as a residential building. The focus was on better integrating the building into the village structure, respecting the municipality’s guidelines regarding the appearance of the village, and making the privileged location perceptible.
Access
The building entrance was located on the front side in the northeast and the stairwell was positioned
off-center. By moving the staircase and positioning the entrance centrally on the longitudinal facade
towards the street, the access to the building, as well as the access inside the building, was optimized
for residential use. The access is now more direct, the approach is clearer and the face of the building
to the village was reinforced.
Apartments
There are two apartments on each floor. In the center of the 3.5 and 4.5 room apartments is a
spacious living and dining area with an open kitchen, which is zoned by the arrangement of the
kitchen cabinets. The bedrooms are given a more private character due to the parapet windows, but
without losing the relation to the outside.
Facade
The facade and the roof were optimized by specific measures to meet the new needs of residential
use, and the building is also being renovated in terms of energy efficiency.
The existing windows at the corners of the longitudinal facade as well as at the gable facade were
replaced by French windows. The generous openings create light-filled living spaces with an
appropriate relationship to the exterior. The bay window on the street side was removed and a round
window was added above the entrance, to clarify the situation and strengthen the expression of the
building. In addition, the existing wooden facade in the attic was replaced by a generous glazing
consisting of delicate windows. In order to connect the glazed and closed facade sections, vertical
wooden slats were provided, which extend across the entire width of the gable facade.
The roof in the northeast of the building was raised to create a uniform ridge height and thus calm the
shape of the roof. Also, by eliminating the bay window, a clear, continuous roof edge was created.
New skylights and generous dormers provide ideal natural lighting for the over-height rooms of the two
attic apartments.
Materialization
To meet the municipality's requirements for the appearance of the site, we based our work primarily
on the existing building. Typically for the location, materials such as plaster, concrete, wood, copper
and clay characterize the overall appearance of the facade. These materials suggest independence
and restraint at the same time, contributing to the expression and autonomy of the building, which fits
seamlessly into the village landscape due to its nuanced materialization and restrained color palette.
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Project Title: Conversion Office Building, Uitikon-Waldegg
Project Location: Zürcherstrasse 42, 8142 Uitikon-Waldegg
Function: Architecture and Construction Management
Lengen Hajdarevic Architektur GmbH
Konradstrasse 20, 8005 Zürich
Client: private
Program: Conversion of office building into residential building
with 6 apartments (3.5 to 4.5 room apartments)
Milestones: planning 2021-2022, execution: 2022-2023
Planner:
Architecture Lengen Hajdarevic Architektur GmbH, Zürich
Landscape Arch. Lengen Hajdarevic Architektur GmbH, Zürich
Constr. Management Lengen Hajdarevic Architektur GmbH, Zürich
Civil Engineering Ingenieurbureau Heierli AG, Zürich
Building Services Noci Ingenieure GmbH, Uitikon-Waldegg
Electrical Planning Wobmann2 Elektroplanung + Design, Zürich
Building Physics Amstein + Walthert AG, Zürich
Fire Protection Lengen Hajdarevic Architektur GmbH, Zürich
Contractors:
214 Holzbau Baur Holzbau AG, Dübendorf
222 Spenglerarb./
224 Bedachungen Rolf Weidmann AG, Oberengstringen
230 Elektroanlagen Hensel AG, Zürich
250 Sanitär Benedetto, Uitikon-Waldegg
258 Küchen NILO Schreinerei Küchenbau AG, Wettingen
271 Gipser Romeo + Sohn GmbH, Schlieren
273 Schreinerarb. M+E Schreinerei AG, Münchwilen
> For further see separate list of contractors.
Total Costs: BKP 1-9: ca. CHF 4.2 Mio.
Building Costs: BKP 2: ca. CHF 3.3 Mio.
GF total (floor area): 1498 m2 (+32 m2 AGF)
GV total (volume): 4693 m3
Heat Production: earth probe with heat pump
Picture Credits: Federico Farinatti
