Martin Hofer

A Pfingsthain for Zurich West
After “Die blühende Pfingstweide” and “Josef will wohnen”, this is the third project I have co-managed and the third publication of Hochparterre magazine. “A Pfingsthain for Zurich West” reduces the inner Pfingstweidstrasse to two lanes, thus creating a tree-lined boulevard over 800 m long, contributing to a better quality of life and cooling the city. If a 30 km/h speed limit is also introduced, over 2000 apartments could be built on the former shopping street and Zurich West could finally become a mixed urban district.
Download PDF.

"Josef wants to live"
Under this title, I led a working group on behalf of the Interessengemeinschaft Zentrum Hardbrücke (IGZH) that conducted a thorough examination of the City of Zurich's test planning. Our recommendation demonstrates that it is possible to create up to 500 affordable apartments on the vacated site, in addition to generating numerous job opportunities. To date, the City of Zurich has only included plans for a limited number of housing units for the elderly at that location. The article in Hochparterre was published in a special edition and provides additional details link to PDF.

During a two-day module at ETH Zurich for the MAS/CAS "Future Heritage," under the Chair of Historic Preservation and Building Research, I had the opportunity to introduce the students to the topic of "dealing with the existing building stock."

Since April I'm a member of the six-member advisory board for architecture and urban development of the city of Wetzikon, appointed by the city council (no link yet)

Member of the core team of IGZH (Interessengemeinschaft Zentrum Hardbrücke, Zurich West): Various urban planning interventions and developments

I was commissioned by the Hamasil Foundation, together with Köbi Gantenbein, to lead two workshops in October and November 2022 with a working group put together especially for this purpose. Under the programmatic title "Blühende Pfingstweide" (Blooming Pfingstweide), we are challenging a large-scale project on the Welti-Furrer site in the center of Zurich West, directly at Pfingstweidstrasse, which in our view is completely "out of time". But we don't just criticise, we also point out alternative options for taking action - deliberately flamboyant and thought-provoking, since we want to achieve change. In April 2023, a special issue of Hochparterre was published. Here you will find a link to the editorial as a PDF from this special issue.

Everything doesn’t always go to plan. But, in the end, even failure can bring progress. The «Re-Use» project for the legendary Huber Pavilions on ETH’s Hönggerberg campus provides a perfect example. Just two days before it was due to start, the project fell through.

I initiate the development of the first commercial building accessible by bicycle (based on similar concepts developed earlier). Together with another company, I support the architects and recommend other specialists. We provide important input regarding sustainability and economic viability, contribute investor contacts and coach the market value estimates. The perimeter block building is to be constructed entirely in wood, with a 6 metre wide pedestrian and bicycle ramp over 5 storeys. The building envelope made of photovoltaic elements and possibly wind turbines on the roof will produce more electricity than the building needs.
The realisation of the project is currently underway.

Conversion concept for a vacant office property in Kreis 4 in Zurich with an innovative micro-business approach, as an alternative to a residential scenario; for a real estate fund.

HORTUS-House of Research, Technology, Utopia and Sustainability
This is the working title of a project that involves a multidisciplinary team developing an extremely sustainable office and commercial building in Northwestern Switzerland with very low grey energy expenditure (no concrete, amortised within 25 years, etc.) and a target of zero emissions.

Life Sciences campus in the greater Basel area
On 4 building sites of the so-called BaseLink-area in Allschwil I co-initiated and -developed: Maincampus

Seebahn-Park, Zurich
In 2016, I and four other committed town residents had the idea of covering the SBB Seebahn-Graben line which runs straight through city districts 3 and 4 from Hohlstrasse to Wiedikon station, for once not to build on the site or compact it structurally, but to create a green park instead.

Time and again: Architect coaching
I regularly advise architects and architectural firms on organisational and entrepreneurial matters, which could be anything from career or succession planning through to operational optimisation.

Expert and guide
I have been engaged by universities and other institutions to provide expertise or support time and again, as it is the case this example where I was approached by Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer to take on the role of Professor of Architecture and Construction at ETH for the 2020 autumn semester.

Real estate and location scouting
I enjoy searching for specific properties or plots for clients – the more unique and challenging the better. Currently, for example, I am looking for:
*Properties for high-end, metropolitan retirement residences

Participation in workshops
I am often invited to take part in multidisciplinary workshops as a seasoned expert, partly due to my skills as a lateral thinker or someone who thinks outside the box.

Guest speaker
From time to time, I am invited to attend corporate or local authority events as a guest speaker – again usually labelled a lateral thinker or someone who thinks outside the box. Currently, for example, for the Atuprix award ceremony.