Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

Frei + Saarinen Architects converted a 100-years-old Parish Centre in Zurich and implanted a new wooden lobby with a unique atmosphere that is generated by a clash of „trendy“ facetted geometries and an old fashioned way of detailing. The geometry of the new lobby is the consequence of stretching the formerly enclosed space towards the facades and respecting the given bearing structure. A new rooflight accentuates the entrance to the hall (see plan). Additionally this vertical element „slows down“ the dynamic character of the lobby.

Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

Aditionally, a new appartment for the priest was designed at the top level. Since a part of the former bigger terrace was covered by a roof-extension, a portion of the tilted roof became a tilted interior wall. Thereby a new pentagonal room with four tilted walls is generated – the priest’s new „tilted“ living room.

Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

Only two new elements are seen from outside: The new fully glazed entrance to the lobby (the glass is a custom product weighting 1.5 tons) and the new dormer window leading from the priest’s living room to the terrace thet can be partly covered by a „James-Bond-Marquee“

Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

see also the video

Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

Photo by Nicolaj Bechtel & Stefan Wülser

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Hannes Henz Architekturfotograf . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.

© Frei + Saarinen Architekten . Published on October 14, 2010.