The rental area of 27,800 square meters radiates an open and vibrant atmosphere that would delight Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewie, and Louie, known in German as Tic, Tric, and Trac, who have given the complex its name. Baumschlager Eberle has devised a spatial concept that meets current needs for highly flexible and cost-effective commercial space.
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The ensemble’s showpiece is a 700 square meter creative mall linking all three buildings at the first-floor level. This multifunctional open area provides an informal meeting point for the tenants and ample space for events. The ground floor will accommodate shops, cafés, and restaurants catering to the daily needs of the tenants and local residents.
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The outstanding external feature of the complex is the two-part, concrete curtain-wall facade which corresponds with the structure of the interior space. The thermal envelope with its extensive window glazing is supplemented by circumferential concrete elements, the projecting nature of which ensures extensive shading and dispenses with the need for any additional protection against the sun. “The continuous static system with load-bearing cores and a column grid of 8.10 meters make the shell very economical inside”, says Marc Fisler, Baumschlager Eberle’s project manager in Vaduz.
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No costly interior work has been carried out. The structural concrete has deliberately been left visible and the building services offer considerable flexibility. Marc Fisler: “The heating has been installed alongside the facade and the many electrical cable ducts buried in the concrete ensure an optimal basic structure. Other technical equipment such as ventilation, cooling, and additional sanitary units have been prepared at the core and can be installed by the tenant as required.”The 2.7-metre modular grid relates to the construction and so facilitates the individual finishings and the refinement of the rental space.
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In urban development terms, Tic Tric Trac fits effortlessly into its commercial surroundings. The buildings along Räffelstraße take their cue from the volume of the structures in the neighborhood. The tallest building has ten stories, rises up 40 meters and thus makes maximum use of the permitted height for the neighborhood.
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Project Info:
Architects: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten
Country: Zürich, Switzerland
Area: 46915 m²
Year: 2014
Manufacturers: BAM Swiss, Baumgartner Fenster, Geilinger, Nägele Betonfertgteil
Planning: Baumschlager Eberle
Building Physics: Braune Roth AG
Structural Engineer: Frick & Gattinger
General Contractor: Implenia Generalunternehmung
Landscape Architect: Müller Illien Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH
Client: Swiss Life
Project Architect: Marc Fisler
Assistance: Marius Cerha, Ina Brink, Tomasz Walecki
Building Technology: Ospelt Haustechnik
Fire Safety: EWP AG
Site Area: 12766 sqm
Net Floor Area: 39534 sqm
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
Courtesy of baumschlager eberle
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Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.