Zurich: Appeal against "Maaglive" appeal dismissed
Swiss Prime Site is planning a major project on the Maag site in Zurich-West that involves the demolition of the existing event halls. The opponents of this project have now scored an interim success in the administrative court.
The opinion of the building appeal court in the Maag-Hallen case has been confirmed by the cantonal administrative court. As announced by the Zurich Heritage Society, the following still applies: the City of Zurich must examine whether the buildings are worthy of protection, even though they are not listed in the municipal inventory. The administrative court rejected an appeal by Swiss Prime Site against the decision of the building appeal court.
"Inventory only requires potential worthiness of protection"
The City of Zurich only wanted to preserve the hardening shop building from 1941/42 (Zahnradstrasse 22), which is listed in the municipal inventory, and the listed workshop and forwarding building from 1939 (Zahnradstrasse 21/23). The court of second instance sees grounds for the protection of both the Maag halls and an office tower on the site, although these are not included in the inventory of listed buildings. "The administrative court states that an inventory only requires the potential worthiness of protection," writes Heimatschutz in a press release. The requirements for this should not be too high. According to the court, it is also possible to claim that a non-inventoried property is worthy of protection and to challenge a building permit on this basis.
Planning application was submitted three years ago
Swiss Prime Site submitted the planning application for its "Maaglive" project almost three years ago. Based on designs by Berlin architects Sauerbruch Hutton, the plan is to densify the site with apartments, office space and cultural uses. In addition to the Zurich Heritage Society, the Hamasil Foundation, which runs the Kulturpark in the neighborhood, also lodged an appeal against the planned demolition of the event halls. There is speculation in Zurich about the SPS's determination to push through the current "Maaglive" project against all odds. The "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" refers to a possible alternative: the designs by Lacaton & Vassal, which emerged from the architectural competition and were not pursued further, were highly regarded by experts. As the French firm's concept emphasizes a particularly careful treatment of the existing building and includes a conversion of the Maag Halls, the chances of realization are better here. (aw)
