The Altbau
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At the turn of the century Swiss Re purchased a large lakeside plot in Enge, a booming development zone at that time well outside Zurich’s city limits. In 1911, work started on the construction of a modern administration centre, which is still in use today as the Altbau. |
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| The well-known conservative architect Alexander von Senger was commissioned to design the building. | ||||||
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Later on - in the twenties and thirties - his work came to be more widely recognised, especially in Germany. |
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After an intense and turbulent construction phase, the ornate neo-baroque building was officially opened in May 1914. |
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The building met with wide public acclaim and was hailed as a progressive, even ground-breaking office building. |
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Legal arguments between Swiss Re and von Senger dragged on for many years after completion. |
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The project was also marred by massive budget overshoots, which only gradually came to light afterwards. |
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"Collector's Items" originate from Knowledge & Information Management and the Company Archive at Swiss Re.
