Design guidelines for historic residential quarter
Urban planner OSRI supports 120 property owners in the Eigenheimquartier development in Winterthur. The aim is to establish criteria for the future design of the historic properties. The estate is to be preserved in its original character, as it is regarded as an example of urban planning to alleviate the housing shortage.
Negotiations are underway for the design and further development of the Winterthur terraced single-family housing estate Eigenheimquartier for 120 owner-occupiers. Urban planners OSRI from Lucerne, the Eigenheimquartier Winterthur association and the cantonal monument preservation authority are involved in the process. The results should lead to greater legal certainty and faster building permits for the historic properties, according to a press release from OSRI.
The housing estate known as the “self-help colony” dates back to the period after the First World War. It was built as a counter-reaction to the great housing shortage and is one of the most important small housing estates in the canton of Zurich with a historically significant residential character, according to OSRI.
The appearance is characterized by a “generally simple design language”. In order to maintain uniformity, the current negotiations are subject to a design guideline, which was drawn up on behalf of the cantonal monument preservation authority and with the participation of the landowners. This is intended to set out criteria that must apply when redesigning the existing 90 detached and 28 semi-detached houses. Specifically, the following questions will be addressed: Should the rows of houses once again have a uniform color scheme? What shape can skylights have? How much can the ridge height increase after the roof has been insulated?
OSRI is responsible for deadlines, documentation and communication in the process. In the fall, it is planned to let the residents have their say. Their results will be presented at an information and dialog event and put up for debate.