Following a successful referendum on November 24, Zurich is now set to host the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper. The new tower will be built in the Altstetten district of the city, coming in at 108 metres tall.
Called the UBS tower, the wooden building will be built right next to Altstetten train station in Zurich, between Max-Högger-Strasse and Aargauerstrasse. It will replace an existing office building and be used to house 2.800 workers from the Swiss bank.
The legendary Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designed the new skyscraper, using a combination of wood and concrete. Kuma himself has a strong track record in building impressive structures using wood, most notably the Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee, the Japanese National Stadium in Tokyo and the Saint-Denis-Pleyel train station in Paris.
The wooden skyscraper design is aimed at keeping CO2 emissions to a minimum - so much so that the local Social Democratic Party called it a "showpiece project in terms of ecological high-rise construction." Alongside the offices, there will be space for cafes, restaurants and childcare facilities, and the top viewing platform is expected to be accessible to the public for 25 hours a week.
At 108 metres tall, UBS tower will be the tallest wooden-based building in the world. In future, it will be the fourth tallest structure in Zurich, behind the skyscraper being proposed as part of the new Hardturm stadium (137 metres), Prime Tower (126 metres) and the Swissmill grain silo (118 metres).
The project was not without its opponents, with the local Zurich Young Green Party having forced the plans to a referendum. They argued in a statement that the “use of wood and a few climbing plants” would not change the fact that construction of the building itself would be environmentally damaging.
With Zurich embroiled in the worst housing shortage on record, they added that building more office space instead of apartments to rent was irresponsible. "UBS is not building suitable housing for its employees or for those who are displaced by them. The city will have to take over that," they added.
Nevertheless, the project was approved by 64,5 percent of voters at a referendum on November 24. The new building is expected to be inaugurated in 2029.
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