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Apartment and Commercial Building
Bertastrasse / Gutstrasse, Zürich
1950 - 1952
The
residential building with commercial units located at the
Talwiesenplatz is regarded as a favorable
urban
arrangement. With a height of six storeys,
the volume is in proportion with the free space of the road and and the square. The buildings are distinctively positioned and configured and have an appearance full of tension.
The building could be realized only on the basis of the then new building code of the City of Zurich. Werner Stücheli decided against a closed perimeter block development and
in favor of a locally concentrated building with an annex. Instead of monotonous perimeter block development with three storeys Werner Stücheli planned a building with one
respectively six storeys. This design follows the intention, that the six-storey building, together with the high buildings on the Birmensdorferstrasse, should better define
the space of the square. At the same time, the single-storey shop tract connects old and new. The parcel utilization is exactly the same as that in the normal allowable
perimeter block development. Not only the successful differentiation of cubes, but also the large, tree-lined courtyard, which no longer has the miserable appearance
of a cheerless backyard, proves the commitment of the architect and its client. The construction is very carefully balanced in its details. With its remarkable and
consistent formal language the building constrasts with the usual post-war architecture.
The architect aimed to give the façade a generous touch in respect to the exposed position of the six-storey building. Despite the challenging plan layout with apartments
of different sizes, the elevations are structured in vertical balcony and window elements, which give order and tranquility to the exterior of the building. The staircases
are located at both ends and result in a retracted niche, which mitigates the width of the east-west oriented type. The windows of adjoining rooms such as kitchens,
bathrooms, toilets and staircases are generously arranged so that they are not expressed with overtly importance.
There are two single-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom apartments, and two three-bedroom apartments per floor. On the south side of the sixth floor
is located the apartment of the owners. In the basement are nine garages, laundry rooms, drying rooms and the heating. In the second basement
are located the cellaries of the residents. The single-storey commercial wing has sales and preparation rooms on the ground floor, while toilets
and storage cellaries are located in the basement.
the volume is in proportion with the free space of the road and and the square. The buildings are distinctively positioned and configured and have an appearance full of tension.
The building could be realized only on the basis of the then new building code of the City of Zurich. Werner Stücheli decided against a closed perimeter block development and
in favor of a locally concentrated building with an annex. Instead of monotonous perimeter block development with three storeys Werner Stücheli planned a building with one
respectively six storeys. This design follows the intention, that the six-storey building, together with the high buildings on the Birmensdorferstrasse, should better define
the space of the square. At the same time, the single-storey shop tract connects old and new. The parcel utilization is exactly the same as that in the normal allowable
perimeter block development. Not only the successful differentiation of cubes, but also the large, tree-lined courtyard, which no longer has the miserable appearance
of a cheerless backyard, proves the commitment of the architect and its client. The construction is very carefully balanced in its details. With its remarkable and
consistent formal language the building constrasts with the usual post-war architecture.
The architect aimed to give the façade a generous touch in respect to the exposed position of the six-storey building. Despite the challenging plan layout with apartments
of different sizes, the elevations are structured in vertical balcony and window elements, which give order and tranquility to the exterior of the building. The staircases
are located at both ends and result in a retracted niche, which mitigates the width of the east-west oriented type. The windows of adjoining rooms such as kitchens,
bathrooms, toilets and staircases are generously arranged so that they are not expressed with overtly importance.
There are two single-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom apartments, and two three-bedroom apartments per floor. On the south side of the sixth floor
is located the apartment of the owners. In the basement are nine garages, laundry rooms, drying rooms and the heating. In the second basement
are located the cellaries of the residents. The single-storey commercial wing has sales and preparation rooms on the ground floor, while toilets
and storage cellaries are located in the basement.