LANGSTRASSE ROAD, NEIGHBORHOOD, ETH ZURICH D-ARCH Urban-Think Tank Prof. Alfredo Brillembourg URBAN MODEL? Prof. Hubert Klumpner A Topic Diploma Thesis Spring Semester 2018 ETH ZURICH - DARCH NSL CHAIR OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN Urban-Think Tank Prof. Alfredo Brillembourg Prof. Hubert Klumpner ONA Neunbrunnenstrasse 50 8050, Zürich Switzerland CONTACT Melanie Fessel [email protected] +41 (0)44 633 92 20 www.u-tt.arch.ethz.ch LAYOUT Melanie Fessel Julienne Zürn TEXTS Melanie Fessel PHOTOGRAPHY UTT Index Introduction 05 The Context Langstrasse Photo Essay 06 Centtrality 22 District Morphologies 26 Transformations in Langstrasse 30 Learning from Langstrasse 34 Historical Context 46 Cadastres 50 Maps of Zurich (RES Zurich) 58 The Task Introduction 66 Statement 68 The Project Task 71 Information Materials 72 Deliverables Method Evaluation 73 Schedule Tools and References 74 Density 76 Model Perimeter 77 Integrated Disciplines 78 Appendix 82 Langstrasse Langstrasse 4 Introduction Where and what is Langstrasse? This reflects a global phenomenon of cities with exclusive and A road? ‘shrinking’ centers — a transformation that demands critical A quarter within a district? inquiry, and with it, a new form of response by the architecture and design profession. The Quartier of Langstrasse is characterized by different urban morphologies in an area of tension between the Europaallee and Helvetiaplatz. Falling within the district of Kreis 4, the neighbor- THEME hood of Langstrasse showcases a myriad of spatial typologies ranging from existing building stock, new commercial real-estate How can we generate inclusive formats of urban development of the Europaallee, partially dilapidated structures, high-end res- models within the city of Zurich? idential building developments, a variety of commercial activity, as well as the iconic Langstrasse ‘strip’. - Existing qualities - Existing opportunities The variety of building stock found in Kreis 4 culminates in a - Reduction wide range of high-density urban forms. A mean density of 2.4 - Expansion FAR can be found within the district’s quarter. Inversely, the - Reprogramming void between these densities creates a variety of public open - Reuse spaces. These large and small-scale openings are what define the public realm and the ground plane of the neighborhood. Notable Discovering and recording what is special and valuable about examples include Helvetiaplatz and Bäckeranlage, while intersti- Kreis 4, Zurich, is the starting point of this theme. Students tial, ‘in-between’ or ‘leftover’ spaces create smaller public spaces will engage a reading of the existing cultural and programmatic throughout the neighborhood, all contributing towards the life landscape of Kreis 4, in order to respond accordingly. between its buildings. An understanding of the relationship between the built density and void of the urban block is the starting point for this task. To This collage of multiple fabrics and centers sits adjacent to the intervene and remain within regulatory density frameworks, one main train station, its central location making it attractive for is required to make a judgment about what to remove and what new development. Together this provides a rich context for the to retain on a given block, creating incisions in the urban fabric critical examination of a neighborhood in transition. that impact its density, programmatic character and surround- ing public space networks. How much and what to then insert What kind of transformative processes are occurring in Lang- becomes the second part of the task. Spatial and programmatic strasse? proposals must position themselves with a clear understand- A neighborhood with multiple centers? ing of the existing socio-economic landscape of Langstrasse- to A place of indistinct edges? contribute toward spatial transformation in the neighborhood. The area historically provided all the characteristics of an immi- Typical planning and development constraints, whether dictated gration quarter where people try to find a new beginning, using by the market or planning authorities, should be critically ap- it as a point of entry into the city. This has culminated in diverse praised. Alternatively, scenarios treating Kreis 4 as an exemplary economic opportunities including businesses, retail, brothels, case and suggest the redefinition of regulations are encouraged and bars - activities that have come to typify Langstrasse. The provided convincing arguments support them. area’s red light district is a form of seemingly intangible busi- ness with mobile people, clients, and hotspots. But the region’s recent rebrand – “Tribeka: sublime chic, oriental cuisine, precise craftsmanship, and the finest coffees” – has seen formerly estab- lished, local family-owned stores disappear, while simultaneously attracting big business establishments. Langstrasse 5 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 6 Langstrasse Photo Essay Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 7 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 8 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 9 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 10 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 11 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 12 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 13 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 14 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 15 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 16 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 17 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 18 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 19 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 20 Langstrasse Neighborhood, Spring’17 | U-TT Langstrasse 21 Frau Gerolds Garten Limmatplatz Main Train Station Zurich HBF What and where is Langstrasse? Limmat A neighbourhood with multiple centres? A place of indistinct edges? SBB Europaallee h = 2 b=1 etro above Bäckeranlage Sihl Typical Section Langstrasse LEGEND Kasernenareal Langstrasse Quartier, District 4 Area of Investigation Different Typologies Helvetiaplatz Langstrasse Streetscape Building Mass along Streetscape Quartier Center Area 0 500 m Langstrasse Map showing area of intervention. 22 Context Adjacency to Main Train Station and central location in city center POPULATION DENSITY Zurich Area: 91.88 km² People: 402’762 Pop. Density: 4384 pers./km² Aussersihl/ Kreis 4 Area: 2,9 km² People: 27’605 Pop. Density: 9519 pers./km² Langstrasse/ Kreis 4 Area: 1,13 km² People: 10’985 Pop. Density: 9721 pers./km² Figure-ground plan of Zurich. Langstrasse 23 What and where is Langstrasse? A road? A quartier within a district? Idea Perimeter Scenarios 0 500 m Langstrasse Aerial View Langstrasse, District 4+5, Zurich, CH. 24 How can we generate inclusive formats of urban development ST.PAULI, REEPERBAHN, HAMBURG models within the city of Zurich? DE WALLEN, AMSTERDAM - Existing qualities TRIBEKA - Existing opportunities LANGSTRASSE, ZUERICH - Reduction - Expansion QUARTIER LANGSTRASSE - Reprogramming GEMEINDE KREIS 4 UND 5 - Reuse BUILDING STOCK TRANSPORTATION ZONING Exploded axonometric view of Langstrasse showing a variety of inscribed boundaries. Langstrasse 25 Filled in urban blocks. Kreis 4, Langstrasse Quartier Langstrasse Google Map View of Neighborhood. 26 District Morphologies EXISTING • Urban morphologies and development: ranging from small perimeter blocks, high density blocks filled in. • Building typologies: existing building stock, new commercial real-estate Europaallee, partially dilapidated structures, high-end residential building developments, a variety of commercial activity, as well as the iconic Langstrasse ‘strip’. • Density • Open space: Civic spaces (Helvetiaplatz, Bäckeranlage), intermWediary public spaces (streets, sidewalks), interstitial spaces (courtyards, alleyways), private open space (balconies, gardens). • Diverse economic opportunity TRANSFORMATION • Rebranding: “Tribeka: sublime chic, oriental cuisine, precise craftsmanship, and the finest coffees”. • Gentrification: Established, local stores disappear, attracting big business establishments. • Increasingly exclusive and ‘shrinking’ city center ALTERNATIVE • Understanding existing programmatic DEVELOPMENT • Built density and void • What to remove, what to retain • What to insert Langstrasse 27 Segmented perimeter block with small courtyard structures. Kreis 5, Gewerbeschule Quartier Langstrasse Google Map View of Neighborhood. 28 Perimeter blocks, segmented blocks. Kreis 4, Langstrasse Quartier Google Map View of Neighborhood. Langstrasse 29 Replacement of Old Building Stock Brauerstrasse, Ecke Langstrasse Google Maps, View of Brauerstrasse 37. Langstrasse 30 Transformations in Langstrasse “Moderne 3.5 Zimmer Wohnung in zentraler Lage” Brauerstrasse, Ecke Langstrasse Rendering, Real-Estate Advertisement. Langstrasse 31 ©UTT Transformatiosn in Langstrasse . Tribeka Shop Fronts, exclusive and branded shopping zone Langstrasse 32 Transformations in Langstrasse Exclusive Center “Tribeka: sublime chic, oriental cuisine, precise crafts- manship, and the finest coffees” Tribeka Brand Map showing locations of Tribeka branded shops in the Langstrasse district. Langstrasse 33 “Learning from the existing landscape is a way of being revolutionary for an architect. Not the obvious way, which is to tear down Paris and begin again, as Le Corbusier suggested in the 1920s, but another, more tolerant way; that is to question how