Michael Wagner, founding partner
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Studies of architecture and diploma with Prof. Peter Märkli at the ETH Zurich. National and international work experience with MVRDV, Gigon/Guyer and Baumann Roserens Architects. Self-employed architect and urban designer since 2010. Since 2023 Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Liechtenstein and since 2018 Lecturer in Urban Design for the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich. Long-standing experience in research and teaching at the chair of Prof. Kees Christiaanse as senior assistant, head of the research group Kulturlandschaft and lecturer at the ETH Zurich and the University of Liechtenstein. National research projects and publications. Further teaching activities at the University of Zurich and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences. 2014 Visiting Professorship 'Agenda Lehre' at the Technical University of Munich. 2017/18 Guest Lecturer for Urban Design at the University of Liechtenstein.

Raphael Vanzella, founding partner
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After studying architecture at ETH Zurich, Raphael Vanzella worked for four years at Graber Pulver Architects AG in Berne as a project architect and deputy project manager. In 2010 he started working independently on projects and supported Ilg Santer Architects in Zurich until 2012. He is primarily responsible for the conversion projects of Wagner Vanzella Architekten and manages the Zurich office.

Sophia Disiou, project architect
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Studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Internships with Burkhalter Sumi Architekten. Worked with Unit Architekten in Zurich.

Jil Kugler, project architect
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Studied architecture at ETH Zurich, diploma with Prof. Anne Lacaton, spent a semester abroad at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Internships with Planwerkstadt and with Haerle Hubacher Architects. Worked with Hauser Meier Architects.

Andreas Hasler, Administrator
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Diploma in economics, working as accountant, programmer and consultant.

Former staff members
Simon Grimm, Laura Hänni, Serena Keller, Lino Saam, Milo Strub, Meret Studer, Dominik Thurnherr, Kristina Turtschi

We are regularly looking for motivated interns. Requirements: at least four semesters of study experience and knowledge of common digital tools (Vectorworks, CreativeSuite, Cinema 4D, etc.). If you are interested, please send us your portfolio including a letter of motivation by email: mail@wagnervanzella.ch

Alongside his office work, Michael Wagner is also active in research and teaching: Since 2023 he is a professor for Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Liechtenstein, from 2018 to 2023 he has been giving the lecture series Urban Design as a lecturer at the ETH Zurich. From 2010 to 2018 he was a lecturer and research assistant at the chair of Professor Kees Christiaanse there, and from 2012 to 2018 he led the research group Cultural Landscape. In 2017/18, he was a visiting lecturer in Urban Design at the University of Liechtenstein, and from 2013 to 2018 he was an external lecturer there in the Master's programme for the seminars ‹Regenerative Environments› and ‹Settlement and Territory›. In 2014, he held a visiting professorship in Agenda Teaching at the Technical University of Munich. Between 2007 and 2009, he and Rahel Lämmler investigated the work of the East German concrete shell builder Ulrich Müther.

Selected Publications:
Designing the future, 2022
Urban densification: impact on energy consumption, 2021
Building replacement? Not necessarily, but if so, then the right way!, 2020
Rurbanitas: On the Creation of Urban Qualities in Rural Areas, 2019
Kulturlandschaft entwerfen. Für einen integralen Planungsansatz, 2018
Cahiers de l'ASPAN: Tout reste différent – Vers un avenir partagé, 2017
Aktionsplan Zernez Energia 2020, 2015
Leitfaden Zernez Energia 2020, 2015
The City as Resource: Images of the City, 2014
Urban Design in the Age of the Anthropocene, 2014
Ulrich Müther. Shell Structures in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 2008

2021

Preliminary project (currently in progress)
Villa with garden, Grüningen (ZH), private client.

Building project (currently in progress)
Roof conversion of single-family house, Winterthur (ZH), private client.

Preliminary and construction project (currently in progress)
Roof terrace for single-family house, Winterthur (ZH), private client.

Detailed project design (currently in progress)
Schoolyard pavilion, client Rudolf Steiner School Winterthur.

Detailed project design and construction (currently in progress)
Recycling Center Zug, Recycling center with collection and sorting of recyclable materials (Ökihof), second-hand shop (Brockenhaus) and building component exchange (Bauteilbörse), Zug (ZG), architectural design by Michael Wagner and Marcella Ressegatti, in cooperation with Sima Breer Landscape architecture, client Public works office, City of Zug.

Detailed project design and construction (currently in progress)
Apartment Building Klosterstrasse, apartment building with seven units and three terraced houses, Griessen / Klettgau (D), private client.

Detailed project design (currently in progress)
New construction of a three-family house, Zurich Affoltern (ZH), private client.

Test planning
EPI-Areal Zurich Lengg (ZH), in collaboration with Ganz Landscape Architects, client Swiss Epilepsy Foundation, Zurich.

Competition entry
Extension of the Muoshof secondary school, Malters (LU), awarded by the municipality of Malters.

Feasibility study
Conversion of a villa with two residential units and garden, Zurich Enge (ZH), private client.

Preliminary and construction project, design supervision.
Conversion of a single-family house, Thalheim an der Thur (ZH), private client.

Research project
Urban densification and its impact on energy use in Swiss cities, in cooperation with the Energy Systems Lab of EMPA and KCAP Zurich, 2019-2021, client Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swiss Confederation. Final report

2020

Feasibility study
New construction of an apartment building with three residential units on a property with a heritage-protected villa, Langenthal (BE), private client.

Redesign of the village square in Zumikon (ZH), two-stage open competition, first phase, in collaboration with Heinrich Landschaftsarchitektur (lead), organizing body Municipality of Zumikon.

Competition entry
Redesign of Kehlhofplatz Steckborn (TG), open competition, organizing body City of Steckborn.

Competition entry
School building Im Isengrind, New primary school building with gymnasium in Zurich Affoltern (ZH), in collaboration with ASP Landschaftsarchitekten AG and Mario Rinke (structural engineering), organizing body Real Estate Department City of Zurich.

Feasibility study
New construction of an apartment building with eight residential units, Zurich (ZH), private client.

Competition entry
School complex Rönnimoos Lucerne, New school building, triple gymnasium and football fields FC Südstern, Lucerne (LU), organizing body Department for Real Estate and Building management, City of Lucerne.

Status analysis and feasibility study
New construction of an apartment building with four residential units, Zurich (ZH), private client.

Competition entry
Primarschule Näfels, New primary school building with gymnasium in Näfels (GL), organizing body Municipality of Glarus North, represented by the Real Estate Department.

Research project
Urban densification and its impact on energy use in Swiss cities, in cooperation with the Energy Systems Lab of EMPA and KCAP Zurich, 2019-2021, client Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swiss Confederation.

Detailed project design and approval procedure
Recycling Center Zug, Recycling center with collection and sorting of recyclable materials (Ökihof), second-hand shop (Brockenhaus) and building component exchange (Bauteilbörse), Zug (ZG), architectural design by Michael Wagner and Marcella Ressegatti, in cooperation with Sima Breer Landscape architecture, client Public works office, City of Zug.

Detailed project design, construction and completion
Rudolf Steiner School, School building M13, Winterthur (ZH), renovation of the building shell of a school building, client Real Estate Foundation Immo RSS, Zurich.

Detailed project design, construction and completion
Rudolf Steiner School Winterthur, School building M15, Winterthur (ZH), extension, facade renovation, seismic strengthening and interior design of a school building, client Real Estate Foundation Immo RSS, Zurich.

Urban planning
Urban Planning Concept Lichtensteig. Vision and strategy 2050 for the spatial development of Lichtensteig, urban planning concept, Lichtensteig (SG), in cooperation with Strittmatter Partner, KCAP and Zeugin Gölker Immobilienstrategien, direct commission 2018 - 2020, client: municipality of Lichtensteig.

Detailed project design
Apartment Building Klosterstrasse, apartment building with seven units and three terraced houses, Griessen / Klettgau (D), private client.

2019

Research project
Urban densification and its impact on energy use in Swiss cities, in cooperation with the Energy Systems Lab of EMPA and KCAP Zurich, 2019-2021, client Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Swiss Confederation.

Competition entry
Rüschlikon Bahnhof Süd, Rüschlikon (ZH), Anonymous architectural competition on invitation, 2019. Planning team: Christian Salewski & Simon Kretz Architekten (lead), XM Architekten GmbH, Benno Agreiter Architekt, HELSINKI Zurich Office GmbH, Wagner Vanzella Architekten ETH / SIA, Laboratorium KLA, Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure, HSSP Baumanagement, Gruenberg + Partner AG. Organizing body Community of Rüschlikon.

Preliminary project design
Recycling Center Zug, Recycling center with collection and sorting of recyclable materials (Ökihof), second-hand shop (Brockenhaus) and building component exchange (Bauteilbörse), Zug (ZG), architectural design by Michael Wagner and Marcella Ressegatti, in cooperation with Sima Breer Landscape architecture, client Public works office, City of Zug.

Planner selection procedure for development study
Transformation area Gewerbestrasse Döttingen, development study and communal development plan binding on the authorities (2nd place), in cooperation with Eckhaus AG, Hager AG, TEAM.verkehr.zug ag und PBK AG, client Municipality Döttingen, Birchmeier Immobilien AG, Hess & Co. AG.

Building project design and implementation
Rudolf Steiner School Winterthur, School building M13, Winterthur (ZH), renovation of the building shell of a school building, client Real Estate Foundation Immo RSS, Zurich.

Building project design and implementation
Rudolf Steiner School Winterthur, School building M15, Winterthur (ZH), extension, facade renovation, seismic strengthening and interior design of a school building, client Real Estate Foundation Immo RSS, Zurich.

Urban planning
Urban Planning Concept Lichtensteig. Vision and strategy 2050 for the spatial development of Lichtensteig, urban planning concept, Lichtensteig (SG), in cooperation with Strittmatter Partner, KCAP and Zeugin Gölker Immobilienstrategien, direct commission 2018 - 2020, client: municipality of Lichtensteig.

Building project design
Apartment Building Klosterstrasse, apartment building with seven units and three terraced houses, Griessen / Klettgau (D), private client.

2018

Selected competition entry (1st place)
Recycling Center Zug, Recycling center with collection and sorting of recyclable materials (Ökihof), second-hand shop (Brockenhaus) and building component exchange (Bauteilbörse), Zug (ZG), architectural design by Michael Wagner and Marcella Ressegatti, in cooperation with Sima Breer Landscape architecture, organizing body Public works office, City of Zug, Urban Design Department.

Feasibility study and preliminary project design
Apartment Building Klosterstrasse, apartment building with seven units and three terraced houses, Griessen / Klettgau (D), private client.

Urban planning
Urban Planning Concept Lichtensteig. Vision and strategy 2050 for the spatial development of Lichtensteig, urban planning concept, Lichtensteig (SG), in cooperation with Strittmatter Partner, KCAP and Zeugin Gölker Immobilienstrategien, direct commission 2018 - 2020, client: municipality of Lichtensteig.

Planner selection procedure (1st place) and preliminary project design
Housing Cooperative Zielacker, adaptation of staircases (including installation of elevators) and renovation of kitchens and bathrooms in three apartment buildings, Frauenfeld (TG), in cooperation with Hasler Schlatter Partner, client Housing Cooperative Zielacker.

Conceptual study and preliminary project design
Rudolf Steiner School, Winterthur (ZH), renovation of the building shell of two school buildings, client Real Estate Foundation Immo RSS, Zurich.

2017

Competition entry (2nd place)
Agor·a·bundance, contribution of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the 16th Architecture Biennale 2018 in Venice, Vaduz (LI) / Venice (I), organizing body University of Liechtenstein.

Competition entry
Winkelried Square, Basel (BS), Redesign of an existing square with fountain and buvette, in cooperation with Heinrich landscape architecture, organizing body Building and traffic department, Canton of Basel-City.

Feasibility study and preliminary project
Apartment Building Klosterstrasse, apartment building with six units and three terraced houses, Griessen / Klettgau (D), private client, surface area approx. 1'300 sqm.

Competition entry
Ambulance garage and city archive, Biel (BE), in cooperation with Fürst Laffranchi Engineers, organizing body Building construction division, Department for building energy and environment, City of Biel, surface area approx. 4'500 sqm.

Competition entry (5th place)
Redesign and revitalization of village center, Municipality of Au (SG), in cooperation with Heinrich landscape architecture, organizing body Municipality of Au.

Competition entry (3rd place)
Wache Nord, fire brigade station with ambulance garage, repair shop and logistics center, Zurich Oerlikon (ZH), in cooperation with Ressegatti Thalmann Architects, Fürst Laffranchi Engineers (structural engineering), GMS Partner AG (project and construction management), Klaus Zweibrücken (traffic planning), Studio Durable (sustainability concept), organizing body Public works office, City of Zurich.

2016

Competition entry (3rd round)
New office building complementing the cantonal government district in Frauenfeld (TG), in cooperation with Heinrich landscape architecture, organizing body Building department of the Canton Thurgau, representing the state of Thurgau, surface area approx. 4'000 sqm.

Competition entry (7th place)
Redesign of Bahnhofstrasse and Theater Square, Lucerne (LU), in cooperation with Heinrich landscape architecture, organizing body City of Lucerne.

Competition entry
Maintenance Depot, Bülach (ZH), in cooperation with Ressegatti Thalmann Architects and Mario Rinke (structural engineering) organizing body Building department, Canton of Zurich, surface area approx. 36'350 sqm, thereof approx. 4'600 sqm usable building space.

Realization of event furnishing
Manifesta 11 - Parallel Event: Donate to curate, Zurich (ZH), client Slow and Spicy Curatorial Practice, Zurich University of the Arts.

Potential analysis
St. Matthew parish, Zurich (ZH), client Zurich Council of the Reformed Evangelical Church.

2015

Competition entry (3rd place)
Maintainance Depot, Sissach (BL), in cooperation with Ressegatti Thalmann Architects, organizing body Department for building and environment, Canton Basel-Country, surface area approx. 14'000 sqm, thereof 3'250 sqm usable building space.

Conversion and renovation
Semi-detached single-family house, Schönenberg (ZH), private client, surface area approx. 200 sqm.

State and potential analyses
For various properties of the Reformed Evangelical Parish Zurich-Industry, Zurich (ZH), client Reformed Evangelical Parish Zurich-Industry.

Competition entry (final round)
Expo 2027 – concept competition for Swiss national exhibition 2027 in eastern Switzerland, in cooperation with Salewski & Kretz Architects, CR Communication, Cathy van Eck, Zeugin Gölker Real Estate Strategies, organizing body cantonal governments of Appenzell Outer Rhodes, St. Gallen and Thurgau.

2014

Competition entry
Fishery Center Lake of Constance, Steinach (SG), in cooperation with Heinrich landscape architecture, organizing body Building department, Canton St. Gallen, surface area approx. 1'000 sqm.

Conversion and renovation
Apartment Building Walkestrasse, Winterthur (ZH), private client, surface area approx. 240 sqm.

2013

Competition entry
Complementary hospital building Barmelweid Ost (AG), in cooperation with Al-Wakeel & Grab Architects and James Melsom (landscape architecture), organizing body Klinik Barmelweid AG, surface area 17'000 sqm.

Competition entry (2nd place)
Fire brigade and police station, Wil (SG), in cooperation with Marcella Ressegatti, organizing body security alliance of the Wil region and cantonal police St. Gallen, surface area 8'000 sqm.

Conversion and renovation
Terraced House Kirchweg, Winterthur (ZH), private client, surface area 130 sqm.

until 2013

Conversion and renovation
Semi-detached single-family house, Winterthur Töss (ZH), private client, surface area approx. 200 sqm.

Test planning
Schwamendingen Triangle, Zurich Schwamendingen (ZH), development and design of a masterplan for a cooperative neighbourhood of 720 apartments, planning lead by Michael Wagner, in cooperation with blue architects (General lead), Ruprecht Architects (Urban Design), Inura Institut (Sociology), Anton Ghiggi (Landscape architecture) and Prof. Mark Michaeli (Community planning), commissioned by Cooperative Glatttal, surface area approx. 96'000 sqm, floor space area approx. 130'000 sqm.

Feasibility study and preliminary project design
Apartment Buildings Waldgarten, Zurich Schwamendingen (ZH), design of three apartment buildings with a total of 10 apartments, design phase 2012 – 2013, private client, surface area approx. 1'600 sqm.