When working with historic buildings, finding a clear route for drainage from a new attic bathroom down to the basement can be tricky. Often, it requires several shifts in direction to avoid running straight into a living room. We map out the best path through the timber frame in 3D using the point cloud of the digital twin. Thanks to this technology, we continue to push new boundaries and are proud of the progress we’ve made.

At the traditional Christmas Eights Regatta, the rowing section of the Grasshopper Club Zürich inaugurated its new women’s changing room. The installation took place within the listed boathouse at Mythenquai – requiring sensitivity to both heritage and function. The project marks an important step in developing the women’s team, with the aim of being present in future competitions. We designed and executed the new showers and changing areas with future expansion in mind – ensuring they remain in the right place even as the space grows.

The original tiles were long gone – and to be honest, we didn’t find them particularly attractive. So, everything new? Not quite. It’s these small details that inspire us. How can we make more of what’s already there? We firmly believe that it is in moments like these that the most exciting work is created. Interventions like this reflect our mission: carefully crafted, a bit playful, pleasantly surprising, and resource-conscious. (By the way, the trick here lies in the changing grout color.)

New faces, new photos – today, Nici Jost was once again behind the camera for us. The updated team photos are now online. Assisting with the group shot was Astana, our youngest team member. A warm thank you to both!

This question can be a real headache: Can we truly unlock the full densification potential through a renovation and extension, an attic conversion, or by adding additional floors — or does the old building stand in the way? What threshold must be crossed for it to make economical and ecological sense, to sacrifice the existing structure?

Fascinating questions! Sometimes, the only way forward is to directly compare the two scenarios — as we recently did with a single-family house in Zurich-Albisrieden.

There were existing waste-water pipes to the right, to the left and hanging from the ceiling and we wanted to cover them up. In the space in between we created a 'bench', for sitting, tying shoe laces or for placing shopping bags. It is somewhat reminiscent of the old waiting rooms at the train station.

Our renovation in Oberdorf is finished. We are delighted with the outcome and are happy to add another successfully completed project to our portfolio. We would like to thank our client, with whom it has been a pleasure to work.

This year, our office trip, which is becoming an annual tradition, had little to do with architecture. Instead we headed to Zurich Zoo for a family friendly outing. We had the opportunity to visit the new additions to the zoo and enjoyed a meander through the forest to our lunch spot at Degenried.

After five joint projects in a row, Stéphanie Thioub has become one of our most important consultants. As a qualified architectural color designer, she is an integral part of the development of our color and material concepts. Steffi works at Meier Schmocker AG, Baden, and often prefers to implement the concepts herself, using high-quality and sustainable paints.

Reuse, recycle, 2nd-life - the trend for recycling and reuse in the construction industry is not so new: In Zurich's Oberdorf we uncovered a ceiling and what did they use for the formwork? Old, discarded doors!

The watertightness of the building envelope is one of the most challenging topics in construction planning, for example in the case of loggias or below ground. In 2021, the SIA published the revised standard 271 "Waterproofing of buildings". The Association of Swiss Building Envelope Companies has now published an excellent compendium on the subject. We were informed about the main changes to the topic at a recent presentation and we took valuable knowledge home with us.

District 4, two neighboring plots near Europa-Allee. Four historical buildings and a big potential to densify. An exciting task with urban development quality. We are looking forward to the challenge!

We are delighted to announce a new client and two new projects on apartment buildings in the city of Zürich. One is an alteration to an apartment in the historical core of the city and the second is a larger renovation project in the district of Wiedikon. We would like to thank our client, a community of heirs, for their trust.

The Zollikon Shooting Club is breaking new ground. Shooting is an attractive sport for people with impaired mobility and the club is planning the first wheelchair-accessible 25m pistol shooting range in Switzerland. Our initial plans are complete and the board will now go on a publicity tour to raise funds. Donations are very welcome!

Spring at the large construction site in Lufingen: While camera I shows completion of the 56 phase 2 apartments, camera II currently captures the steady emergence from the excavation pit of the third and final phase. As of 1 April 2023, the Zentralstrasse building cooperative will offer a further 34 apartments at this spot. Baumgartner + Partner is responsible for the implementation planning of the project.

What many do not know is that a Minergie® label does not necessarily make an energy-related refurbishment of an existing building more complex. On the contrary, building to Minergie® standards can significantly simplify the requirements for the building envelope and lead to better results in terms of design.

In contrast to the usual requirements for SIA 380/1, the system renewal for Minergie® evaluates not only the energy consumption, but also the form of energy used for heat generation. Anyone willing to break away from fossil fuels, install PV systems on the roof and implement a basic ventilation system, will be rewarded with less stringent requirements for the building envelope. The focus with Minergie® is not on energy consumption, but on CO2 emissions.

P147

Our client was able to move in as planned for the start of school after the autumn holidays. The single-family house in Windisch was extensively renovated, and the CO2 footprint was reduced by a good 90% thanks to a pellet heating system and the renovation of the outer shell. From the outside, the alterations to the 1960s building are hardly noticeable; inside, the adaptations to meet the needs of the new users, sit harmoniously with the existing structure.

A long bar, two seats, an immense choice of aperitivi and this beautiful flooring. For your next outing: Via di Fossatello, 35r, 16124 Genova.

While the building remained in operation, we reconstructed the fire compartments, overhauled and expanded the sprinkler system, and provided new service rooms. The owner invested CHF 720,000 to upgrade the fire protection of the underground parking garage to meet new standards. Baumgartner + Partner led the project with an overall management mandate.

In architecture, there are topics that spark excitement – and then there are those that are a little less thrilling. Mold definitely falls into the latter category. However, for our work in existing buildings, understanding it is crucial. Mold and humans don’t get along. Mold needs more moisture than we do and prefers cooler conditions. In a way, it’s an indicator: a physically healthy building simply doesn’t provide an environment for mold to thrive. However, the path from treating symptoms to finding a lasting solution can be a challenging one.

Gisella Chacón deepened our knowledge on the subject through a seminar at TÜV Academy Rheinland and successfully passed the certification exam.

Our colleague Gisella has successfully completed the basic course offered by the ecobau association. Ecobau is very important to us, as the association certifies building materials based on health and ecological criteria, making sustainable planning and construction easier. With user-friendly reference works, checklists, and practical aids, we are able to work more effectively in the field of sustainable architecture.

The course covers the essential requirements – from architectural concept development to parameters for a healthy indoor climate, as well as the selection of ecological materials. We highly value these courses, as they help us align the knowledge we gain in practice with the theoretical foundation and promote valuable exchange.

Cool even without air conditioning? We have a very summery contribution from Robert Minovsky from the Minergie® Association (article in German).

Our study focuses on a building from the 1930s, worthy of preservation, in a beautiful location. The building lies in a protected building zone and the plot has a large utilization reserve. Our study aims to show how the utilization potential can be activated, with the greatest possible consideration towards the existing building.

Together with our colleagues from Architheke, we are currently renovating the former "NumberOne" in Brugg. The work next to the black tower is nearing completion. The owner of the property, the Altstadt cooperative, is looking forward to the new tenants. Papa Oro's, a friendly family business from Baden, will be serving Filipino specialties, opening for the first time at 10am on 9th of April. There will also be the best barista café from Kape Hiraya.