Zurich: Helvetia presents plans for Frohburg
Helvetia Versicherungen is planning a new housing development on the Frohburg site in Zurich-Oerlikon. Around 660 rental apartments are to be realized.
The Frohburg housing estate in Zurich-Oerlikon is located in the immediate vicinity of the Irchel university campus and borders the Zurichberg forest to the south. The buildings of the existing development with 307 apartments were constructed shortly after the Second World War. Since the properties no longer comply with the currently applicable building regulations and standards, Helvetia Insurance wants to build a new superstructure on the 39,000 sqm site.
The "Mittag" project by Miroslav Šik Architekten, Knapkiewicz & Fickert Architekten, WT Partner Baumanagement and Ryffel+Ryffel Landschaftsarchitekten emerged as the winner of a study competition. According to a statement by Helvetia, the jury was impressed by the project's "delicate urban layout, the clear formulation of the access road and the diverse range of apartments".
Twice as much living space as before
With the construction of two elongated, angular rows of buildings, the winning project creates mixed living space for a wide variety of lifestyles. A residential building with around 60 apartments for students is also planned. The rents for the total of 660 apartments are to be in the affordable to mid-range segment, in keeping with the location. Plans also include a café with a neighborhood store, a multipurpose room and a double kindergarten.
With a new development of the area, a doubling of the number of apartments will be achieved, yet the character of a green settlement is to be preserved, emphasizes Helvetia. Access will be via Murwiesenstrasse, which will be designed as a traffic-calmed pedestrian zone. Helvetia is seeking certification for the new Frohburg housing estate in accordance with the new Swiss Sustainable Building Standard SNBS.
In the next one and a half years, a detailed preliminary and construction project will be developed. In this context, the realization in stages will also be concretized. Depending on the approval process, construction of the first stage could begin in spring 2021 at the earliest, according to Helvetia.
