Sihlporte Project by Alexander Bürgi
april 18, 2011
concept program
concept section
model spatial structure
model spatial structure
concept sketch
concept sketch
handdrawing apartment
handdrawing backyard square
handdrawing roof terrace
model apartment
model apartment
model apartment
model apartment
model apartment
situation
floor1
floor2
floor3
floor4
floor5
floor6
floor7
floor8
floor9
floor10
floor11
floor12
section cross
section longitudinal
dropped idea: flodable room - closed
dropped idea: flodable room - open
dropped idea: flodable room - open
dropped idea: flodable room - open
dropped idea: flodable room - concept
Semester design
architecture student: Alexander Bürgi
from: ETH Zurich
professor: Manabu Chiba
semester: winter semester 2009/10
category: house
This project is an extension of the urban public space into a primarily residential block to activate latter over all daytimes. Two restaurants, a bar, a gym and shops are integrated into the residential structure.
The circulation system linking all these uses becomes the core element of the project:
Beside providing access this chain of public spaces is the place for children to draw their chalk images, for people to take an evening walk, to play football, to relax over lunch break, to have a favourite corner, to wander around and discover...
The circulation system is composed of all different circulation rooms connected by a path of stairways and elevators: all functional unities have their unique circulation room.
There are two types of circulation rooms:
One type are the introverted interior voids of all different sizes: calm spaces to retreat to.
…step into one’s heart
The second type are the voids relating to an attractive outside: making aware of the reality of this city.
…overcome the boundaries of the body
The spaces piercing the block allow for magnificent views of the urban spaces all around. While lower circulation spaces visually reference to the small-scale river area, the small park or shop corners, higher parts reference to street axes and the in-between space of the urban blocks. The highest part, above most buildings around, allows for views to the lake and the surrounding mountainous landforms.
The often abandoned circulation spaces are filled with life.
The primary spatial structure of the building is given by the circulation space and horizontal floor slabs. Being the exact negative of the various different circulation spaces with their sculptural expression, the apartments are characterised by an equal diversity. Reducing the functional elements of the apartments (bath, toilet, kitchen) to box-like units placed free in space just by the principle of room proportion countless in-between spaces are created, all with different atmosphere.
To provide more private spaces that could be enclosed in an apartment the idea of a foldable room came up: a room with variable form and size
When not in use the room‘s walls are folded and closed (in this time it contains only the immobile furniture, hence its minimum size).
When needed the room will unfold to the required size like a flower.
The walls will enclose a theatre-like stage with the furniture as actors.
To enhance the quality of everyday life a social diversity apartments of all size (20m²-260m²) are planned. The structure makes no difference to whether it is inhabited by families, in a shared or individual way.
The block reflects an image provided by the surrounding urban structure where offices can be found beside a school, a museum, a botanical garden, a theatre, galleries, bars and restaurants.