Martin Kohlberger & Angela Thomas

Seebach still is one of the few areas of Zurich whose character has not been completely remodeled in the last decades. Up to now, it is a quarter with a high number of former migrant workers and other locals.

We think for the area it is essential to provide a combination of living and work spaces. The already existing structure could provide for such concepts. At the same time we want to value typically hidden household and reproductive labor within the project.

Structurally, we start by using what is already there and by adding two volumes we try to mediate the complex structure of the Okey building with its surroundings. The extensions serve to implement a high number of living spaces and include additional outside staircases connecting the floors but also the different volumes – old and new – with each other.

A second necessary step is replacing the northernmost block by a higher residential volume. The inside of the Okey Building accommodates communal spaces, a community-kitchen, a bath-house and work places for blue-collar jobs such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc. For the flats we propose floor plans with small sanitary and kitchen spaces, to fit our concept, which are surrounded by sleeping rooms.

The extensions in the south might be operated by the Liegenschaften Stadt Zürich, while the other flats and collective spaces might be given to a housing association, thereby combining different clientele.