[Translate to Englisch:] Städtebauliche Figur des Papieri-Areals im Modell
From paper mill to a new neighborhood
The Papieri site shaped the town of Cham and the wider Ennetsee region for over 360 years. Converting the former paper mill into a lively neighborhood has proven something of a challenge. Lots of questions arose: Where was it important to preserve the existing complex, and how should the new elements be added and integrated for the best possible effect? How could the site’s original identity be honored, while creating a new one at the same time? How can its story be told, and something given back to the local people?
Like so many of those involved in this process of transformation, Roger Boltshauser, owner of the eponymous architecture studio and guest lecturer at ETH Zurich, and Andreas Friederich asked themselves these very questions. The two have been involved in the development of the Papieri site, albeit in different roles, from the very beginning. In 2013, Friederich oversaw the transformation of the area in a consulting capacity, before becoming Head of Real Estate at the Cham Paper Group, and finally CEO of the Cham Group. Boltshauser and Friederich are well aware of the challenges of building bridges between the past and the future, people and the natural world, and living and working.
The starting point for the site development represented a unique challenge. After the relocation of paper production operations to Italy, the landowner wanted to rezone the former site of the paper mill in order to open up this once closed-off industrial area to new uses. The riverside location, proximity to the center of Cham and the presence of nearby recreational spaces make the area a shoo-in for new housing. Yet a quarter of the future development will be dedicated to working space. The roughly 1,000 jobs that will be created here eventually will ensure a stimulating mix of uses in the new neighborhood. “Working out the basic principles for a development of this scale and complexity requires a planning process that can rise to the challenge,” says Friederich, who acted as the architect and site developer.
This was achieved in the form of a moderated, externally managed cooperative planning process involving the town council, the landowner and the people of Cham. The process has taken a good four years. Groundbreaking principles were set out in specific terms and a multi-phase test planning process was organized in tandem with renowned urban planners from Switzerland and further afield. At the end of the process, the broad-based assessment committee was most impressed by the guideline design by Albi Nussbaumer Architekten from Zug and Boltshauser Architekten from Zurich. This provided the basis for the subsequent construction plan. The population had a say at every step of the way, and in the end they voted in favor of the rezoning and development plan for the Papieri site.
[Translate to Englisch:] Andreas Friederich
“Having a public participation element as part of this planning process was crucial in ensuring acceptance of the project among the majority of Cham residents.”
Andreas Friederich
But what exactly was it that made the urban planning for the Papieri site so special? One element is the linear shapes of the existing paper machinery halls that line the riverbank. These listed buildings set the tone for the project. The addition of a new building opposite enhanced the effect and provided scope for attractive pathways and courtyards in between. The layout of buildings in parallel is reflected on the eastern side of the site, along Knonauerstrasse.
These edge developments create space within the site. The arrangement is at its densest around the five new high-rise buildings, which were designed to complement the iconic existing buildings. The striking height of the high-rise buildings sets up a rapport between the neighborhood and the settlement structure of the wider community, while the less built-up peripheral zones create a gentle transition to the built-up area. As you move inward, the buildings grow closer together.
“We were very much inspired by the existing buildings when we put together our guideline urban planning design. That is what makes the project so unique.”
Roger Boltshauser
There was a lot of emphasis on points of contact with urban planning, with a view to forging spatial relationships and opening up spaces. The route to the river, the new Lorzensteg, and a new bridge over the Lorze will create new connections and appealing outdoor areas.
However, the zoning plan not only incorporates an overall urban planning concept, but also proposes an environmental plan for the entire area. This creates a layout where the landscape to the north, which is defined by the Teuflibach creek, extends down into the site in a park-like expanse. It then gradually morphs into an increasingly urban, public space until it reaches the large Papieri Platz at the southern end of the development. The design prizes plentiful greenery, a wide variety of native plants and a number of traffic-free zones to ensure a top-quality experience. This creates a coordinated and complementary juxtaposition of converted buildings and open space deftly shaped by a coherent, distinctive design.
“The denser the development, the greater the importance of a good design for the outdoor space. This is a place to spend time and meet up with others. It offers relaxation, well-being and a sense of identity, and makes visitors want to stay. High-quality outdoor spaces create ecological added value, which is why we pay great attention to the design of the spaces between the buildings.”
Andreas Friederich
“We were utterly committed to preserving the identity of the former factory site and continuing its legacy,” continues Boltshauser. “Time and time again, you notice that the Papieri site is deeply rooted in the Cham community,” adds Friederich. “Many of the villagers have a connection to this historic place, either personally or through those they know. Those stories deserve to live on.”
When seen from above, the urban layout becomes more condensed toward the center of the neighborhood; toward the north it opens like a fan and becomes woven into the greenery of the surrounding area. Thanks to this design, the neighborhood dovetails with the village fabric to the south and the landscape to the north.
“The existing buildings helped us to interweave the new neighborhood with the surrounding area and provided a basis for a compact center with new high-rise buildings.”
Roger Boltshauser
Integrating new buildings into the site structure calls for careful attention to the existing buildings. “The industrial nature of the area was key to developing the architectural style for all of the new buildings. There’s no way around it; you have to enter into a dialog with the existing building,” explains Boltshauser. “As the landowner and proactive client for the various building projects on the Papieri site, it was very important to Cham Group AG that the key qualities of the urban and open space guideline project should be reflected in the designs for the new and converted buildings by various architects and in the surrounding area, so that they would come together to form a coherent whole,” continues Friederich.
The overarching sustainability concept will also have a decisive impact on future quality of life in the new neighborhood. The completely carbon-neutral energy system and buildings with timber-concrete composite structures help to reduce carbon emissions. “We are firmly of the opinion that building recycling – converting existing buildings, rather than demolishing them and constructing a new building – will become more popular,” says Boltshauser. His firm is also responsible for converting the former paper machinery halls 1–4 into attractive loft apartments and studios.
It's a long process. For the time being, the two of them are looking forward to the completion of the first phase of construction and welcoming the first residents to the new and converted buildings. “We try to create the ideal conditions for buildings with high-quality design and sustainable construction, along with outdoor spaces, all with a view to breathing new life into the Papieri neighborhood.
In the end, however, it’s the people who will define and enliven this place. This will come from the people who come here, come back again, create something new, sell things, live here, have a coffee, eat, work, feel at home, and enrich the neighborhood,” says Friederich, setting out his vision for the Papieri area. “We’d like to give something back to Cham through the development of this site. We’re aware of its importance as a historic place and are doing everything in our power to address that legacy responsibly. The newcomers will continue the story started by those who once lived and came together here. If that happens, we will have been proven right.”
