Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

The construction of a student residence on the site of the disused water reservoir along the busy Bucheggstrasse came about at the suggestion of a former city councillor. In 2014, the city held a competition for the Rosengarten site, which was won by Atelier Scheidegger Keller from Zurich. It then transferred the property in leasehold to the Foundation for Student Housing in Zurich (SSWZ). Construction of the student dormitory began in 2018. The students moved into their new quarters in September 2020.

Does the place serve its purpose?

Affordable housing is scarce in Zurich, where more than 70,000 students are enrolled at the city’s universities each year. Located not far from ETH Hönggerberg and Irchel University, the Rosengarten student residence provides affordable accommodation for around 130 students in 16 large shared apartments and 2 small flats. The building’s thoughtful design makes it an attractive place to live, despite its challenging location on a busy road.

Does the place demonstrate responsible land use?

One side of the building faces a heavily trafficked road, while the other side borders the newly created neighbourhood park. Thanks to the compact structure of the building, enough space remained for a large flower meadow and a playground. The new neighbourhood park provides an outdoor space for the local community to play and spend time together with the children from the combined nursery, kindergarten and after-school care centre on the ground floor of the new building.

Is the place affordable thanks to economy of design, construction and operation?

The compact interior, some parts of which are deliberately left unfinished, allows the Foundation for Student Housing in Zurich to rent the rooms for around 580 Swiss francs, including utilities. This is a good price for a room in a centrally located new building with a very welcoming atmosphere. The building’s construction meets the Minergie-P standard, and the building materials comply with the Minergie-ECO standard. The energy for heating comes from geothermal probes and a photovoltaic system.

Does the place bring different people together?

The residence is aimed primarily at students who enjoy living in a large community: each apartment can accommodate up to ten people. An open, high-ceilinged living/dining area with adjoining kitchen is the hub of social life. The two-storey apartments each have a loggia facing the park. Each loggia is accessible from the two apartments on either side, encouraging interaction between the inhabitants of different units.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

Legislation makes building along busy roads a tricky and complicated matter. Atelier Scheidegger Keller responded with a compact, solid linear block that follows the gradient and curvature of the road. The elongated building consists of ten terraced houses. A layer of brick encloses a robust load-bearing structure of concrete columns and slabs. Box-type windows – with soundproof glazing on the outside and thermal glazing on the inside – mitigate the traffic noise.

Is the place notable for its distinctiveness?

The building is a clear response to the problematic situation posed by noise and exhaust fumes. Most of the bedrooms face south, towards the quiet neighbourhood park. But even the few bedrooms facing the street have a window to the green space, either through the loggia or as a skylight. This ensures that all rooms have an adequate supply of fresh air. At 25 square metres, the living space per person is limited. But because the two-storey living/dining area and the loggia overlooking the park complement the private rooms, the communal living arrangement as a whole offers plenty of space.

Does the design of the place take the surroundings into account?

Although the building has only been in this heavily trafficked location for a few years, it looks as if it has been here for a long time. It fits naturally into the densely built surroundings along Rosengartenstrasse and Bucheggstrasse. Its dense, compact exterior shell has a friendly appearance thanks to the large windows on both sides. Despite the strict requirements for noise protection, the architects have succeeded in creating a place to live that guarantees concentrated learning and social interaction in one.