In the middle of one of the busiest junctions in Switzerland, amid railway tracks, tram lines and the trappings of the city centre, a structure has taken shape in recent years that combines the highest level of engineering and architecture.

The location – right next to Stadelhofen railway station – presented all parties involved with exceptional logistical and security challenges. The construction site installation included a 70-metre-long protective tunnel above the tram lines as well as protective scaffolding above platform 1 to ensure smooth railway operations.

During the construction period, work was carried out over around 150 nights – for activities in the immediate vicinity of the railway and tram tracks; this was only possible outside of operating hours.

One particularly impressive operation involved the removal of excavated material from the construction site.

Due to the limited space available, all material had to be lifted out of the 12-metre-deep excavation pit using a telescopic excavator and loaded onto trucks. Once the work was completed, the 40-tonne excavator, which rested on the protective tunnel above the road, was transported away from the site using a 500-tonne pneumatic crane. The act of adding ballast to and preparing the crane alone took more than two hours – a meticulously planned mission that neatly highlights the complexity of construction at this location.

The civil engineering work was carried out by Kibag, which produced a compelling video of the excavation pit during the excavation.

Watch the video on YouTube: Link

The preparatory work alone took more than a year and a half. Once the geothermal probes for the heat pump system had been installed in December 2022, excavation of the pit – 12 metres deep, with vertical walls, just 5 metres from the train and tram tracks – could begin. Steel girders weighing several tonnes provided interdependent support for the concrete walls, while all excavated material had to be transported to the other side of the road via the protective tunnel.

Even at this early stage, it was clear that the project would set new standards in every respect.

The basement now houses a public bike station with 800 parking spaces and direct access to Stadelhofen railway station, thus contributing to sustainable mobility in urban areas.
 

Architecture with a signature style

Calatrava’s distinctive design language shapes the building from the foundation to the façades. The striking, sculptural shape of the building, which is reminiscent of the hull of a ship, and the truss-free glass-and-metal façades, lend the building lightness and dynamism – the façades in particular required the highest level of precision in terms of planning and execution.

As a unique exterior, this represented a special task for Allreal: 

“Assembly in dense urban spaces without the use of traditional scaffolding called for meticulous planning and innovative solutions. It was fascinating to see how theory and practice came together at the highest level,” states Allreal project manager Bruno Schumacher.
 

A joint effort 

The project is a symbol of interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, planners, building owners, authorities, engineers and contractors.
Precise coordination, state-of-the-art construction planning and dedicated teams enabled Haus zum Falken to be completed on time and to the requisite level of quality – despite the tight space and complex requirements.

A new landmark for Zurich

With the completion of Haus zum Falken, Zurich can welcome a new architectural landmark to its cityscape – a building that blends into the existing urban environment while lending it a new dimension.

“The project shows what is possible when architecture, technology and passion work in unison. We are proud to have realised this challenging and unique building,” states Bruno Schumacher of Allreal.

The building was officially handed over to AXA-Anlagestiftung on 24 October 2025 – a worthy end to a project that was far more than just a building development for everyone involved: Haus zum Falken is a piece of Zurich’s history.