Baumgartner + Partner AG | Architects | Zurich und Brugg

The site on the edge of Wädenswil, Zurich, had stood vacant for some time. In 2004, Metron AG developed a residential complex for PSP Properties AG on the grounds of the former “Wädi-Brau” brewery. The ground floor was designed for commercial use: the buildings, set on a steep slope, overlook the main road and offer direct views of the lake, while access to the underground car park is located at the rear.

The owner offered the future tenant, Trimble Switzerland GmbH, a customised fit-out of the office space.

One of the main challenges lay in the proportions and lighting: the office floor extends over 100 metres in length, is eight metres deep, and lit from only one side, with a slightly high sill height.

A dense grid of columns supports the two residential floors above, breaking up the space considerably, while staircases and building services risers further divided the layout.

The project included both landlord and tenant fit-out works. Wet rooms were created as part of the base build, while the office spaces were developed in close coordination with the tenant.

We positioned the enclosed functional units – wet rooms, meeting rooms, tea kitchens – between columns and risers to minimise their impact on the space. Columns disappear into cupboards, risers into wall surfaces. Materials such as exposed concrete, smooth plaster and wood-based panels are used interchangeably, so columns become walls, walls become cupboards, and cupboards become columns.

The tight schedule posed its own challenge. The previous lease had already been terminated when we were commissioned. Adding to the experience was the lockdown, which required learning how to keep a project moving forward entirely from home.