Innovative energy solution behind historic facade
The historic building at Bahnhofstrasse 3 will be extensively modernized by the end of 2024 and will enhance the upper section of Zurich's shopping street in the future. However, the building will set standards not only from an urban planning perspective, but also because of its innovative heating and cooling supply using lake water.
Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse is the most famous shopping street in Switzerland. For many, however, the few meters between Paradeplatz and the lake are shopping no man's land. That is about to change. At the end of 2024, the Commercial building at Bahnhofstrasse 3 reopened after renovation to house the Grieder fashion house and a bank. The conversion according to the plans of the architectural firm Studio Märkli transforms the building, which was erected in 1880, so that it meets today's needs. The building, which has been realized in accordance with the guidelines for the preservation of historic monuments, is intended to enliven the upper Bahnhofstrasse and offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of use. While the listed façade will be largely preserved, the interior will be completely deconstructed. A two-story addition brings the property, which once housed the first Swiss stock exchange, into line with the neighboring buildings.
Unique in Europe
As the building owner, the Genossenschaft zum Baugarten attached great importance to ecology. Thus, the building will be certified according to the LEED building label and meet a large part of the requirements of the Minergie-Eco standard, although no certification is being sought. An energy concept developed by ewz uses lake water for heating and cooling in combination with photovoltaics.
Ecological freecooling
The majority of the cooling will be provided by freecooling, in which lake water is used directly, i.e. without chillers. Bahnhofstrasse 3 will be one of the first properties to be integrated into the new CoolCity network, probably between 2028 and 2030 - provided the municipal council and voters give the green light for construction.
Efficient, fossil-free, reliable
For the builder-owner, the 100 % fossil free solution not only ecological, but also economical and convenient. It bears no risk, because ewz takes over the financing and is also responsible for the smooth operation of the energy supply. Should the system nevertheless fail, redundancies are available.
Energy refurbishment as an opportunity
Energy-efficient renovations hold great ecological and economic potential, but property owners often lack comprehensive information on potentials, possibilities and procedures. The new second part of the whitepaper "Energetic Renovations as an Opportunity for the Real Estate Industry", which the research and consulting company Intep developed together with ewz, closes this gap.
ewz energy solutions
Locations in Zurich | Sils (GR) | Rolle (VD)
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