Masterplan Friesenberg, Zurich
The “Masterplan FGZ” was developed by the Familienheim-Genossenschaft Zürich (FGZ) and the City of Zurich through a cooperative planning process. It serves as a strategic basis for the qualitative densification of the Friesenberg neighborhood. The focus was not only on affordable housing but also on minimizing investment costs for both the city and the cooperative, despite the densification program. Friesenberg is the largest contiguous garden city neighborhood in Zurich, with the unique feature of ground-bound housing. The popular compact row houses currently have a very high occupancy rate, while the population density is compensated by large gardens.
The concept aims to optimally coordinate urban development and traffic. Schweighofstrasse will become the lifeline of the neighborhood with traffic management compatible with the settlement. A strong densification of the first building depth with street-facing buildings will create clear addresses. Diverse ground-floor uses, including residential, will enliven the street space at all times, making it not only the “visiting card” of the neighborhood but also a vibrant place throughout the day. Around the SZU station, another densification focus is placed with a neighborhood center and Schweighofplatz as the hub of neighborhood life. Upgrading Schweighofstrasse and the clear coordination between street and building will greatly simplify the entire access system.
By clarifying the front and back sides of the houses, open spaces are clearly defined on one hand, while on the other more than half of the residential streets can be eliminated, resulting in significant cost reductions (construction, maintenance). This also creates a “neighborhood of short distances,” with optimal conditions for low-car living. To ensure neighborhood identity and consider heritage preservation aspects, the row house is regarded as the primary densification typology. With a more compact parceling (reduced house widths) and stacking maisonettes and apartment units, the density can be doubled compared to today. Because the basic typology does not change, the densification process has less impact on the social structure. Harmonious, gentle transitions between old and new preserve the original character of the neighborhood.
At the core is the importance and appropriation of open spaces. Front gardens, currently only residual spaces, will be transformed into usable outdoor areas serving as entrances and representational spaces. With an open design (maximum fence height of 80 cm), the front gardens become part of the streetscape. Thus, the residential streets not only serve as access routes but also become addresses and attractive places for meeting and playing. The large private gardens are subdivided into smaller private gardens directly connected to inner communal gardens that serve as neighborhood meeting points.
