Even before CREATIO AG was founded, the subsequent founding members developed a real estate project together in St. Gallen. This successful development is the origin of CREATIO.

Starting position

It was clear that the 1641m2 plot of land at Ilgenstrasse 30 and 32 in 9000 St. Gallen would one day become a home for more people. The St. Otmar district is very attractive thanks to its proximity to Kreuzbleichewiese and the short distance of only 1 km to St. Gallen Central Station.

The existing properties, presumably built shortly before the beginning of the 20th century (exact year of construction unknown), were at the end of their life cycle. We therefore developed the project in collaboration with representatives of the municipal building administration and the owners of the adjacent plots of land Ilgenhof.

Project description

We wanted to provide as many people as possible with a high quality of living in the new building. At the request of the owners, the focus should be on materials that have good insulation values and are optimized for the health of residents. After consultation with the owners of the adjacent plots of land, it was clear that construction should not take place in a closed ring construction, which would be generally provided for in the zoning regulations. The project was built accordingly according to standard construction methods.

A total of 22 apartments were built on 1680 m2 of main floor space. The building is barrier-free throughout and meets SIA 500 standards. The windows with exposure to the Otmar Church meet increased sound insulation requirements to ensure healthy sleep despite church bells.

Design & architecture

Due to its proximity to the Otmar Church, it is a town with a protected townscape. The building consultancy of the city of St. Gallen has therefore provided support both with the shape of the roof, the materials and the coloring of the façade, as well as the general appearance of the building facing the church. It was crucial not to compete this building, which shaped the townscape, with the new building. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of St. Gallen for their constructive cooperation.

In our opinion, this synthesis of tradition and modernity has succeeded brilliantly. The architecture is elegant and fits perfectly into the district, both in terms of color concept and design of the buildings. The natural stone façade at the base of the main building, together with the roof, forms a unit that defines and characterizes the building. Thanks to special façade lighting with warm white LED, the architecture is perfectly showcased even at night.

sustainability

While the two buildings here were still constructed using minerals, the focus was on a CO2-neutral operation. This is achieved thanks to geothermal heat pumps with free cooling and a 96m2 photovoltaic system on the roof, which, as an association for self-consumption (ZEV), supplies residents with electricity.

The smart home infrastructure of Dingz enables demand-based control of the heating system, which can be controlled remotely as well as made dependent on factors such as the course of the sun. This promotes demand-based heating and cooling.

Implementation: From planning to implementation

Key milestones

• April 2017: Start of planning
• May 2019: Submission of building application
• April 2020: receipt of building permit
• February 2021: Start of construction
• January 2022: Erection
• November 2022: Subscription

Despite Corona and construction costs management, the project was completed on schedule and within budget. We owe this to our partners, who are listed below.

Collaborations & Partnerships

Teamwork makes the dream work!

We were able to rely on an excellent team for the planning and construction of the Ilgenhof:

• Architecture: Bereuter Architekturbüro AG, https://bereuter.ag/
• Construction management: Baukla AG, https://baukla.ch/
• Builder: Willi Bau AG, https://www.willibauag.ch/
• Electrical and plumbing installations: Equans AG, https://www.equans.ch/
• Initial rental and administration: GEMAG Gebrüder Müller AG, https://www.gemag-immobilien.ch/de/
• Heating installation: Albin Gisler AG, https://www.gislerag.ch/
• Kitchens and cloakrooms: MOVANORM AG, https://movanorm.ch/
• Photovoltaics: Hansesun Photovoltaik Swiss GmbH, https://hansesun.ch/
• Smart home control: iolo AG, https://www.dingz.ch/
• Rental software: emonitor AG, https://emonitor.ch/

conclusion

The fact that the two properties were fully let well before completion shows that an optimal product was created here. Neighbours and residents, urban planning and aesthetic aspects, sustainability and economic efficiency — all dimensions were adequately taken into account. As sustainably oriented, responsible developers, we see this balance as our mission.

What's next?

CREATIO is based on the findings from this construction project. In future real estate developments, we will rely even more consistently on sustainable materials that benefit the environment and residents. It is our stated goal to become one of the leading developers of sustainable residential buildings in German-speaking Switzerland.

Would you like to develop your property?

Would you like to sell your property, exchange the single-family home for a high-quality apartment or implement a joint project and make a valuable ecological contribution at the same time? Contact us today for a free quote. We would be happy to check the development potential of your property.