This apartment house with 19 small apartments is just a few minutes by foot from Oerlikon train station, near the Zurich Hallenstadion. The flats are based on a clear grid, with easily legible structures. Large balconies are used to extend the living area.

Systemhaus Vanoli, Zürich, Fischer Architekten AG Zürich

In urban design terms together with the existing buildings from the 1970s the new volumes form a single entity. In its role as a corner building the new apartment house responds to the order generated by the street system and the open space in front of it. So that it can be extended to the west at some time in the future, the apartment house was connected to the neighbouring building and its rear facade was given a demountable, back-ventilated metal cladding.

The dwelling units consist of a daytime and a night-time space, based on the north-south type. The vertical circulation system with a cascading staircase on the western side creates a bright, generously dimensioned hall in front of the apartments.

The facade is composed of bands: in a game played with the way the volume is layered rendered parapets alternate with strips containing metal framed windows. The balconies project beyond the facade and are understood as extensions to the living space. They establish a rhythm that emphasises the strictly structured plan, while leaving the bands clearly visible.