Gubristareal
Pfister Schiess Tropeano
Urban planning concept
Weiningen has its origins as a classic street village and is nestled in an idyllic landscape characterized by vineyards. Three prominent main roads lead from the village center in different directions: one downhill to Fahrweid in the Limmat Valley or to Baden, one uphill to Regensdorf and another along the Limmat towards Zurich.
These historic arteries, lined with residential and farm buildings, define the traditional village image and serve as central points of orientation for residents and visitors. The building structure that has grown up along these streets is diverse, with a variety of sizes, orientations and façade designs. This varied development gives the village a calming, harmonious atmosphere and significantly enriches the public space. A special feature of these buildings is their orientation towards the street, which deliberately opens them up to the street space and enables a lively exchange between the houses and the street. This special orientation makes a decisive contribution to the distinctive character of the village. However, newer, multi-storey construction projects deviate from this traditional building style. These new buildings often appear isolated and are accessed via side roads. They rely on green spaces that act less as an inviting gesture and more as dividing elements. In these areas, the original charm of the village is lost and the impression of an anonymous settlement is created.
The new building project at the entrance to the village on Zürcherstrasse offers the opportunity to counteract this unfortunate development and to reconnect more strongly with the traditional structures. The planned new buildings are deliberately aligned at right angles to the road in order to break up the rigid and monotonous alignment of modern buildings and enable a better connection to the existing village structure. The entrance to the village at the Gubrist portal is deliberately designed with restraint and blends harmoniously into the diverse townscape. Although the multi-storey commercial building clearly marks the entrance, its form and function remain closely linked to the surrounding village fabric. The other buildings are based on the principle of the "semi-detached house strategy with spatial offsets", which means that they are arranged in such a way that they fit harmoniously into the proportions and character of the surroundings.
In harmony with the green space
The outdoor space plays just as central a role in this concept as the buildings themselves. As there is a lack of high-quality open spaces in the existing village structure, the focus of this project is on using the new building volumes to create outdoor areas that not only offer a quality of stay but also blend seamlessly into the Weiningen townscape. The three semi-detached houses form two openly accessible, spacious courtyards, which are heavily planted with greenery and significantly increase the quality of living in the adjoining apartments. To the south-west, these courtyards catch the afternoon sun, while to the north-east they offer a view of the typical vineyards, harmoniously integrating the new buildings into the Weiningen landscape. Two summer pavilions are placed between the buildings to shield the residents from street noise and provide a meeting place for communal activities. One of the pavilions is sheltered from the weather, while the other is more of a covered outdoor space with a fireplace that creates a special atmosphere. The adjoining playgrounds and paved recreational areas encourage social interaction both within the site and with the neighboring area, creating a lively and integrated neighborhood. The design of these open spaces is intended to be not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing, respecting and complementing both the natural environment and the historic building fabric.
The aim of this integrative planning is to ensure that the new building projects make a positive contribution to the Weiningen townscape, not only architecturally but also socially and ecologically. The combination of old and new plays a central role here. The project aims to preserve the original character of Weiningen while at the same time creating contemporary, high-quality living spaces that meet the demands of today's society. The sustainable use of resources, the promotion of neighborly coexistence and the creation of a livable environment are the guiding principles of this urban development concept. The result is a place that respects the past and at the same time shapes the future of the village in a positive way.
