Eulachhof, Wintherthur – first zero-energy housing complex in Switzerland

Awards: Swiss Solar Prize 2007, Lighthouse of 2000 Watt, Watt d’Or 2009, Realised

Building type

Residential apartment house

Contractor

Profond Vorsorgeeinrichtung, Rüschlikon

Project description

The „Eulachhof“, residential development on the former Sulzer site in Oberwinterthur, establishes new standards in energy-efficient residential construction in 2007. Dietrich Schwarz Architekten develops the first large-scale Minergie-P-Eco project in Switzerland. The two spacious courtyards accomodate 132 apartments and 1,000 m2 of commercial space.
Construction: the building has a solid concrete structure. The facades are made of highly insulated prefabricated wooden elements. Sixty percent of the southern facades are covered with triple-glazed insulating glass and specially developed solar glasses with heat storage. The opaque components are covered with a raw, pre-grayed horizontal formwork out of Douglas fir.
Building services engineering: The aim was to achieve a good passive solar utilization of the south façade, in addition to the systematic use of heat from exhaust air and waste water. The electricity generated on the roof by solar cells corresponds to the annual requirements of the heat pumps and ventilation system.