Gemeinschaftszentrum Zumikon

The Community Center Zumikon, realized in 1982 by Max Ziegler, has been a vibrant venue for events and leisure activities for over 40 years. It is supported by a condominium owners’ association and embodies in its name its very program: a community-operated space that is now to be renewed and made fit for future generations. Between 2019 and 2022, test studies examined the existing structure and potential renovation strategies; detailed concepts for the overall renewal are now in place.

The project follows the principle of preserving the existing fabric as much as possible and continuing it with respect. Uses are to remain in the old building wherever feasible, while extensions are only planned where the existing structure offers no solutions, such as in the south wing. The goal is a flexible and adaptable layout that will allow for future adjustments. The dialogue with the client and users has sharpened the requirements, while the guiding attitude remains one of restraint and holistic coherence. On an urban scale, the complex mediates between the village square, the traditional Flarz houses at Kirchbühl, and the surrounding settlement structure. The roof forms and scale of the existing buildings are retained, while the south wing is complemented by a distinct new volume.

Access is concentrated on Güggelplatz, the hub of the site, which is upgraded with new pathways, delivery options, and a park-like setting. Service points, bicycle parking, and a new waste disposal solution improve operations. In the north wing, the disco is relocated to the basement, reducing noise emissions. It shares infrastructure with the playgroup and is complemented by outdoor areas. The community hall is connected barrier-free to the Güggelplatz, and receives a foyer with cloakroom and kitchen, as well as upgraded ventilation and heating systems.

The leisure center gains a new layout with additional classrooms, a better-lit ceramics workshop, and a new studio. Ancillary spaces are placed in areas with little daylight, strengthening the quality of the primary uses. A cantilevered balcony links the main staircases and shelters the principal rooms. Shops on the village square are retained, while the Reformed parish consolidates its offices and classrooms more compactly in the north wing. The Catholic chapel is liturgically reoriented, gains zenithal daylight and supplementary side rooms, while teaching rooms in the south wing are retained.

A central element of the renewal is the new library, the only entirely new structure on the site. Attached to the south wing, it links the village square and Güggelplatz via an internal staircase and lift. With offices, a reading stair, and a west-facing opening to the park, it becomes a place of calm and culture.

On the upper floor, the Reformed parish hall complements the versatile range of halls. Together with a fireplace room, association rooms, and community spaces, it enables events for up to two hundred people. An extended terrace provides additional outdoor space with panoramic views. Apartments and studios in the south wing are modestly renovated, with riser replacements as well as new bathrooms and kitchens.

The project considers technical, building-physics, and heritage aspects, as well as energy and sustainability principles. Photovoltaics, timber construction for the extensions, and continued use of district heating strengthen the ecological balance. With a clear division into operational sections, barrier-free access, and flexible layouts, the result is a robust center that meets today’s needs and allows for future developments.

The renewed Community Center is intended to appear contextually rooted, distinctive yet service oriented. It preserves the existing structure, opens itself to new requirements, and creates an identity founded on wholeness. In this way, a decisive step is taken to secure the complex as a lively meeting place for generations to come.

Client: Stockwerkeigentümergemeinschaft Gemeinschaftszentrum Zumikon

Planning: General Planner Rossetti+Wyss Architekten, Lüchinger Meyer Partner AG, Elektro-Ingenieure Meyer Partner AG, CLHT Planungsbüro GmbH, Bünder Hydroplan AG, BAKUS Bauphysik & Akustik AG, Jäckli Geologie AG, SJB Kempter Fitze AG, Gamatech AG, Kiefer & Studer AG, Glamox AG

Exterior visualizations: © Stomeo

Photos: © Jürg Zimmermann

Test planning: 2020, 1. Prize – Further development

Competiton: 2022, 1. Prize