In January 2023, the building permit for HIAG's application to construct the high-rise residential building at Freihofstrasse 25 became legally binding after the objection period expired without an appeal. This clears the way for the implementation of the building project, which HIAG will realise with "pool Architekten", Zurich, and "hrs Real Estate", Frauenfeld.

The approximately 7,800 square metre site at Freihofstrasse 25 is located in the dynamic develop-ment area between Hardstrasse and Altstetten railway station. The garage, formerly used by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has been rented to Binelli Automobile as part of a transitional use since HIAG purchased the property in 2019. On the property, HIAG developed a new high-rise residential build-ing as well as public and commercial ground-floor uses in the existing buildings over a period of around two and a half years.

The high-rise building with 25 storeys, which will house 149 rental flats on around 10,800 m2 of floor space (from 1.5 to 4.5 rooms), will be integrated into the existing building structure of the former car garage. The tenants will be offered a communal room, studios and a spacious roof terrace on the first floor. On the ground floor, sales and service areas are planned with around 2,100 m2 of floor space, and a restaurant is also envisaged. The striking shed hall, which is currently used as a workshop, will be retained and leased to a food retailer on a long-term basis. Under the filigree con-crete structure of the former exhibition and assembly space on Baslerstrasse, a publicly accessible city loggia will be created. This area will be extended by a green space, also open to the public, with numerous trees and play areas.

"Sustainability played a central role in the planning," says Alex Römer, site developer at HIAG. "The high-rise is being built as a filigree, resource-saving concrete structure with a lightweight façade. The open spaces will remain largely unsealed and will be landscaped with local plants. A contempo-rary mobility concept allows for a significant reduction in parking spaces."

At the end of January, the project was provisionally awarded the SNBS Building Construction Gold sustainability certificate.

Construction work is expected to start in late summer 2023 and last until the beginning of 2026. Oc-cupation is planned for March 2026.