Residential Development, Zurich
Completed
Familienheim-Genossenschaft Zürich (FGZ)

Conversion and Renovation
Architecture and Lead Consultancy
Renovation and Conversion of Multi-Family Residential Buildings with 87 Small Apartments.
Planning 2022-2023 / Construction 2024-2025

The seven understated multi-family residential buildings date back to 1952 and comprise 87 apartments ranging from one to four rooms. To preserve these compact and affordable homes for at least another forty years, the buildings were renovated in nine phases. Residents were required to vacate their apartments for only about two months during each phase.
The renovation included the replacement of the kitchens and bathrooms installed in the 1980s, as well as the renewal of a large portion of the building services. At the same time, the façades were thermally upgraded, and all windows and external doors were replaced. External insulation was applied only to the two or three façades of each building with the largest proportion of solid wall. New timber reveals frame the window openings along the access-gallery façades. On the south façades, where the glazing ratio is highest, insulation was deliberately omitted, avoiding numerous complex junction details. Above the existing rafters, a new layer of insulation and integrated photovoltaic roof panels now form the roof envelope.
Following the renovation, the ensemble once again presents a coherent appearance that recalls the original character of the housing development. Thanks to the restrained architectural intervention, the mature green open spaces that have evolved over decades have been preserved and will continue to shape the residential environment at the foot of Uetliberg for years to come.