Stocken

Living under "Oak & Chestnut trees"

Winning entry: 1. prize competition 2023 - ongoing

Project: Public square and housing
Location: Stocken, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Team: Shadi Rahbaran, Ursula Hürzeler, Kilian Schellenberger, Samuele Sciarretta, Virginia Isora Grimaldi, Juan Solera
in collaboration with META Landscape Architecture
Rendering: Play-Time

The planning area is located in the western part of St. Gallen, between the Sitter Valley and Bruggen. The topography, strongly influenced by the Sitter River, slopes steeply to the west and southwest. Key features of the area include the historic brewery building and the former brewery inn, now used as a school by a private institution. The Fürstenland Bridge traffic route also significantly shapes the environment. The nearby Sitter riverbank provides local residents with easy access to a recreational area.

The project proposal is based on the existing constructions and consists of a large house on the square and three staggered houses on the slope as replacement for the current buildings. The brewery annex will also be replaced by a new structure. The apartment typology is essentially divided into east-west oriented, continuous apartments and apartments with a corner orientation. The existing underground garage will be expanded beneath the new building, and the entrance shifted slightly westward. The residential buildings on the square and hillside will be connected underground.

As a place of arrival, in the north between the school, brewery and residential building, a square is being created. The new Stocken-Platz will be completed with a grove of quercus and sessile oaks and with reduced parking facilities. The existing fountain will take on a central role in the newly planned communal play and recreation area, designed as a natural meeting space for residents. The surroundings will be enhanced with additional chestnut trees, as well as rock pears, witch hazels, and magnolias, transitioning to native trees at the edge of the landscape area.

The project includes both ownership and rental apartments, with compact small units catering particularly to the needs of young, urban tenants. Synergies with future uses of the brewery, such as coworking spaces, are also possible. The new buildings will be constructed as hybrid structures with a breathable wooden façade, positively affecting the indoor climate and acoustics.