Murg spinning mill
The Murg spinning mill existed from 1836 to 1996 in Murg am Walensee . After the spinning mill closed , the former factories and warehouses were used for hospitality, loft apartments , studios, commercial spaces and workshops.
history
Around 1815, in the course of technical upheavals ( industrialization ), there was also a social change in Switzerland from the original manufacture and home work to a factory industry. In Murg, the water power of the Murgbach offered a suitable location. In 1836, Othmar Blumer from Glarus founded a spinning mill in the village with financial support from well- funded Basel residents. Operations began in 1838.
In 1848 a turbine from Escher, Wyss & Cie was installed instead of the water wheel . In 1861 a fire destroyed the main building. After three years of reconstruction, the spinning mill was reopened in 1864. Through further expansion, an improved use of hydropower could be achieved.
In 1900 it was decided to found a joint stock company. At the head of the company came Cosmus Schindler-Dorer, a relative by marriage of the owners who knew how to continuously expand the company between 1900 and 1950 despite several severe economic downturns . Social works and welfare facilities for employees were set up. From 1946, Italian workers were hired due to a lack of labor. The girls' home above the factory was specially renovated for them.
In 1950 the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. In the same year, after Cosmus Schindler's death, there was a change in management. His grandchildren Hans Peter and Heinrich von Ziegler managed the company until 1992. From 1970, new investments made the spinning mill equipped with modern and more productive machines in order to survive in the face of tough competition. The capacities were expanded and a new part of the factory was built at the end of the 1970s. Modern apartments were built for the employees.
In 1989 a new warehouse was built in the village center. Further investments in machines and a renewal of the power plant on the Murgbach were pending. At the same time, Eastern Europe opened up: the textile industry began to migrate. An expansion project to Portugal had to be stopped. In the 1990s, globalization brought about a relocation of jobs, first in clothing, then more and more weaving and knitting mills were relocated. The customers of the spinning mills migrated to Eastern Europe and later to Asia. It was no longer possible to produce profitably and there was no hope of recovery. The stronger Swiss franc put an additional strain on competitiveness.
In 1992 Dieter von Ziegler, son of Heinrich, took over the management. Cooperations with Indian spinning mills have been established in order to take account of the globalization pressure. After a checkered history, the spinning mill in Murg was closed in 1996, part of the property portfolio was sold and the machines were liquidated.
Conversion
The spinning mill was converted in stages after it was closed. The concept of mixed use was developed for this. In 2000 Dieter and Esther von Ziegler bought shares from the larger family circle; there was a change of ownership. From then on, azireal AG acted as site developer, builder, and in some cases site manager as well as sales and administration organization.
In the first construction phase, lofts, a hotel, studios, commercial space and workshops were built in the "old building" (built in 1836, 1862) in 2006 and 2007. The groundbreaking and laying of the foundation stone took place in the presence of government councilor Heidi Hanselmann . The building permit included a return to the original facade and consideration of aspects of monument preservation.
In 2011, the “new building” from the 1970s was converted into lofts, studios, tennis / event halls, wellness and fitness areas and a garage. Various intermediate buildings were renovated in parallel. The entire area was awarded the “Roter Nagel” architecture prize in 2012. In 2014 and 2015, further ancillary buildings were converted for conversion.
Web links
- Website "Alte Spinnerei": History
- Federal Office for the Environment, Soil and Biotechnology Department, Bern: Examples of successful conversions of brownfield sites: Alte Spinnerei Murg (SG)
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 47 ° 6 '44.4 " N , 9 ° 12' 59.8" E ; CH1903: seven hundred and thirty-four thousand nine hundred thirty-two / 219456