The high-rise on Plattenstrasse was built between 1956 and 1959 as staff accommodation for around 250 nursing professionals of the University Hospital Zurich – a pioneering building of Swiss post-war modernism, based on the competition design by Jakob Zweifel. After years of vacancy, the listed building was converted into modern office space in consultation with the City of Zurich heritage authority.
A central concern of the conversion was to create more light and more generous spaces without losing the identity of the building. That is exactly where our task began: luminaires that fit into the existing architecture – and that can be installed quickly on a site with 18 floors.
250 luminous squares in the acoustic panel. For the office floors we produced square frames using the m5 Narrow profile system, recessed into the acoustic ceiling panels. We delivered them fully assembled on special trolleys – together with an installation jig that allowed the ceiling contractor to fit them in a single step.
Opal cylinder luminaires as a custom development. For the ceiling openings in the hall and circulation areas we developed cylinder luminaires with a glossy opal diffuser, modelled on the original. We redesigned the lighting technology: more direct light for efficient illumination, with an unchanged appearance.
Wall luminaires for the stairwell and lounge areas. In addition, wall luminaires in the same formal language were created – developed, manufactured and delivered from Winterthur.
We thank 3-Plan AG and the architects of Bhend & Schlauri Architekten for the excellent collaboration.
