KCAP Progress Construction on the Innovation Park Hangar, in Zürich 

Repurposing an existing industrial building on the northern edge of Dübendorf Airfield; this cavernous 150x20 metre building will be the new home to a plethora of researchers—working in the fields of AI, robotics, mobility, aerospace, and engineering from ETH Zürich

Established in 1910, Dübendorf Airfield is one of Switzerland's oldest, most historically significant, and best-preserved airfields. Before the opening of Zürich Airport in 1948, it served as the primary aviation hub for greater Zürich, connecting Switzerland to the world. Located on the eastern outskirts of the city, the airfield is currently undergoing redevelopment to accommodate a triple function: the initial 36-hectare phase of the Innovation Park Zürich, alongside the existing civilian airfield and federal air force operations.

What makes Dübendorf Airfield remarkable are its two historic hangars, constructed in 1925 for Swissair, which showcase the wide-span industrial architecture of the early-twentieth century. Distinguished by their steel truss construction, these structures stand as rare monuments to the craftsmanship of their era. The Innovation Park Hanagar project aims to preserve this rich aviation heritage, while repurposing one of the halls into a state-of-the-art research and innovation hub.

This hangar is astonishingly large, measuring approximately 150 metres in length and 20 metres in width, with a finished floor height of 8.4 metres. Its standing seam metal roof, with a distinct pitched design, creates a 3-metre gap between the height of the perimeter walls and the building’s full height—enhancing the sense of cavernous space. This effect is further amplified by the exposed trusses supporting the roof, which add to the structure's dramatic scale. This building is located on the northern edge of the airfield, creating a clear transition between the airfield and the adjacent residential neighbourhood. Its façade features numerous, huge refurbished sliding doors, rising to the full height of the hangar, which open directly onto the apron. As a result, the boundaries between interior and exterior appear to fluidly intertwine, creating a nearly seamless connection that allows for versatile uses of the space.

The interior is defined by the luxuriousness of its space, and will eventually house facilities to accommodate up to about 200 researchers in the building. The renovation focuses on restoring the exposed steel truss structure, refinishing preexisting walls and surfaces, and preserving the industrial character of the building. To maintain the openness and flexibility of the space, it was decided to avoid introducing new elements that would divide the elongated interior into smaller areas. Instead, three custom-designed, bi-level 'clusters' have been incorporated. Connected by an exposed staircase, each cluster features an open upper level and an enclosed lower level with glass and modular wooden elements. Elevated approximately three metres, these wooden clusters form mezzanines shaped by the steel trusses, which rise between them. Their footprints create a dialogue between the clusters and seamlessly integrate interior and exterior workspaces.

Technical installations and utilities—including energy, air, and IT infrastructure—have been left exposed to further emphasize the industrial character of the hangar. A newly installed sunken utility channel runs the length of the building, enabling the interior to provide researchers with maximum flexibility in their use of the space. Essentially, this project transforms an aviation heritage within an existing green space by integrating it seamlessly into its context. Through visual and material porosity, the building establishes a 360-degree dialogue with its surroundings. Expansive open areas and transparent glass partitions foster a sense of community and openness within the interior, offering unobstructed views of the airfield and the surrounding landscape. Combinations of old and new materials, such as the natural raw wood of the clusters, and the ruggedness of the exposed steel, create a dialogue between past and present, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and efficient reuse—a hallmark of Swiss construction ethos.

The IPZ Hallen project, which will serve as a research centre for robotics, mobility, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing technologies for Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, is scheduled to begin operations in early 2025, with full completion expected by late-2025.

Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Client: HRS Real Estate
Year: 2019-
Status: Under construction
Program: 3.600 m2 of flexible research space
Visualisations: Playtime
Photography: Jan Bitter

​​KCAP Communications
Tel. +31 10 7890 300

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About KCAP

KCAP is a globally renowned urbanism, architecture and landscape design firm, comprising a team of over 100 people and more than 25 nationalities. With offices in Rotterdam, Zürich, Paris and Shanghai, we specialise in caring for the lifecycle and transformation processes of buildings, neighbourhoods and urban regions. KCAP was founded in 1989 by Kees Christiaanse and over the years grown into a well-known international design office with seven distinguished partners: Xavier Blaringhem, Jeroen Dirckx, Ruurd Gietema, Anouk Kuitenbrouwer, Irma van Oort, Ute Schneider and Edward Schuurmans.