Architecture studio Conen Sigl has completed a cooperative housing block near Zurich, topped by a greenhouse-style pergola referencing the area's industrial and agricultural history.
Named Westhof, the block of 87 flats and six commercial units forms part of the development of Hochbord in Dübendorf ? a former industrial neighbourhood in Switzerland undergoing major transformation into a residential area.
Conen Sigl referenced this industrial past using "robust and simple materialisation" for the housing, visually softening it with spaces for plants and wildlife.
Conen Sigl has created the Westhof housing cooperative
"Inspired by the site's history as a plant nursery, the cooperative housing project with complementary communal uses creates an identity-forming place that fosters a strong sense of community and ecological connectivity," Conen Sigl told Dezeen. "With its robust and simple materialisation, it echoes the functionality of the previous structure, while the proximity to a nature reserve reinforces its connection to the area's ecosphere," it added.
Westhof is organised around a large paved courtyard at its centre, dotted with planters created by repurposing industrial skips and old metal barrels.
It references the industrial history of its site near Zurich
On the site's eastern edge is a large nine-storey block, lined with steel-framed awnings, walkways and balconies that overlooks the courtyard.
Opposite, the lower block to the west is...