Jakob v Sihl City

In Sihl City, planned by Zurich architect Theo Hotz, Jakob AG was able to realize several installations that play a central role in the overall character of the complex. This project demonstrates how Jakob's solutions stimulate aesthetic innovations while offering financial advantages.
Sihl City in Zurich (Wiedikon), opened in spring 2007, is one of the largest and most modern shopping and entertainment centers in Switzerland, covering a usable area of 100,000 m². The redevelopment of the former Zurich paper factory "Zürcher Papierfabrik an der Sihl," worth a total of 620 million Swiss francs, offers its 20,000 daily customers a wide range of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and cultural options.
Jakob AG participated in this architecturally remarkable project in several locations. The eastern facade of the parking garage for 850 cars received a green facade designed by Jakob AG. With a height of 23 meters and a width of 25.5 meters, this green facade of the parking garage in Sihl City belongs to the category of green facades, for which there is no standard solution available due to its dimensions and the resulting load. Together with the designers from Raderschall-Landschaftsarchitekten, Meilen, Jakob AG conceived a tailor-made solution. The overall service package included not only the design and production of the facade but also the installation on-site performed by experienced company employees. The overall structure of the facade, composed of vertical and horizontal cables of various diameters with relatively large openings, is set 70 cm in front of the glass-clad wall to provide ample space for plants, particularly wisteria and large-leaved periwinkle. Individually manufactured spacer brackets are anchored to the supporting structure of the parking garage and ensure secure attachment of the cables. The spacer brackets, arranged according to a precisely defined grid, are anchored to the ceiling slab of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth floors in consideration of the vertical strip pattern of the facade. The same applies to the vertical cables of the supporting wall, which have been optimally adapted to the graphic appearance of the facade.


Eastern facade

While the green wall impresses with its dimensions, the cladding of the southern facade of this building with stainless steel mesh Webnet represents a previously unique application of this product, enchanting from both artistic and economic perspectives.
Architect Theo Hotz sought a structure for this facade with high artistic value that would change the character of this simple utilitarian building as little as possible. Judged by dimensions, Webnet appears here as a rigid membrane stretched over the corners of the building cast from exposed concrete. Only up close is the structure of the stainless steel mesh with small openings visible, which is anchored at the front side of the freely protruding ceiling panel.
An extraordinary visual effect is also created by using Webnet on the facade inside the parking garage. Here it allows visitors a far-reaching, unobstructed view that does not induce the claustrophobic feelings that plague many people in parking garages.


Southern facade

In the same way as the facades of the parking garage, the staircases are designed, where Webnet replaces conventional railings. Webnet has proven especially effective in the mirror of the spiral staircase. The supporting structure of Webnet is anchored to the concrete ceiling, from where the stainless steel mesh is lowered. To maintain its oval shape, the mesh is secured by vertically suspended stainless steel cables. These are always anchored to the side of the stair stringers. The advantage of this solution is the installation completed in a very short time.
The architect was fascinated by the possibility of securing the stair spaces with minimal material used without compromising the clarity and transparency of the architectural structure.

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