Zurich
Zurich welcomes the Prime Tower
One week ago today opened in Zurich West the Prime Tower, the highest building in Switzerland.
Prime Tower, Zurich West
The tower is 126 meters high with 36 floors. Compared to other towers in the world like the Montparnasse Tower in Paris with 689 feet/210 meters or the Empire State Building in New York with 1453 feet/443 meters, it can appear quite short. However it is 68 feet/21 meters higher than the Messeturm in Basel, which is 344 feet/105 meters high.
It should stay the highest tower in the country until the Roche Tower in Basel is finished in 2015. It will be 574 feet/175 meters.
About 85 journalists and photographers took part in the official opening ceremony, which included a press conference, a visit of the Prime Tower and all Maag-Areal buildings and a lunch.
The one hour informative speech was held by the key leaders of the brand new tower such as CEO of Swiss Prime Site, Markus Graf, CIO of Swiss Prime Site, Peter Lehmann and the manager of Clouds restaurant, Joos Magnasch.
Crystal light at Homburger business office, Prime Tower
The mayor of Zurich, Corinne Mauch, had the welcoming words reminding that Zurich was one of the nicest cities in the world to live in, being listed number two behind Vienna. With more and more people coming to Zurich, a new part of town was needed for new businesses and living quarters. It was not easy at the beginning to find a place, but it happened. Corinne Mauch said proudly “the turn around had its beginning in Zurich West.”
On Sunday opened a new tram line in Zurich West and in a few years it will be the new Hardbrücke train station!
David Martinez Salvany and Antonio Colaianni at Restaurant Clouds in Zurich
The conference took place in one of the new conference rooms of the Prime Tower. They can be rented starting on January 2d, 2012. The biggest one is large enough for 100 people.
Who could have talked better about the Prime Tower than the two architects themselves, Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer? The two architects from Zurich won the competition in 2004. It took less than 2 years to build their project from November 2008 to July 2010.
The businesses in the Prime Tower are mainly banks, lawyer and consulting firms.
The day of my visit most offices were already rented but not all tenants have arrived yet. The last ones will be there in Spring 2012.
And there is Clouds, the new elegant dining restaurant with its lounge and bistro bar. Clouds opened yesterday on December 12th. Guests can choose depending on their mood and availability! With a fantastic view and amazing dining A la carte, the restaurant is already full for the next four months, the new Chef David Martinez Salvany told me. However if you don’t mind coming during the middle of the week or at lunch time, it may be possible to find a table at Clouds.
Pasta with ricotta from Clouds Restaurant
Clouds offers magnificent views over the city of Zurich, the lake and mountains and is said to become one of the nicest restaurants in town. Chef Antonio Colaianni is joining David Martinez Salvany in the new large kitchen of Clouds.
The two cooks spoiled the media with a wide selection of fifteen tapas, each dish more delicious than the other: soup, scallops, beef tartar, rolled pastas with ricotta, citron sorbet, pana cottas with passion fruits and a chocolate cake with pear and gold leaf.
Markus Graf, Mike Guyer, Annette Gigon and Peter Lehmann at Prime Tower
At the end Annette Gigon, Mike Guyer, Markus Graf and Peter Lehmann welcomed the Prime Tower with a glass of Bollinger Champagne.
