Westhof

Westhof is a cooperative housing project located in Hochbord, Dübendorf, just outside Zurich, Switzerland. Designed by Conen Sigl Architects, the project sits on the site of a former plant nursery and forms part of a larger transformation of the area from industrial and commercial use to a vibrant residential neighborhood. Westhof consists of 87 flats and six commercial units arranged around a communal courtyard, with the architectural layout comprising a four-story head building, a nine-story main block, and a three-story wing. The design draws heavily on the site’s horticultural and industrial past, incorporating robust materials such as corrugated fibre-cement panels for the façade and greenhouse-style pergolas on the rooftop, which serve both as nods to the area’s history and as functional, community-focused spaces for urban gardening and gatherings. The courtyard and rooftop gardens encourage biodiversity and offer residents spaces for recreation and social interaction. Westhof was developed as a not-for-profit cooperative, aiming to foster affordable, self-managed, and sustainable living for a diverse resident population. Flexibility is built into the design with apartment types ranging from small units to larger cluster flats, and with transformable spaces that can adapt to changing needs over time. The project emphasizes ecological responsibility, relying on locally sourced materials, renewable energy, and design elements that support urban wildlife, earning it the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard certification. Westhof embodies a new model of urban community living, balancing affordability, sustainability, and social cohesion while contributing positively to the surrounding urban fabric.