Change of use through specific intervention; The air systems engineering factory Zellweger-Luwa defined the appearance and history of the city of Uster for many years. The change of use of the former company grounds therefore also reflects the transformation experienced by the city. This project is endowed with a special significance for the current and future development of the city due to the prominent location of the grounds, the quality of the constructions and exterior spaces as well as the utilisation potential. Interventions required for transforming the large areas of water and green spaces of the formerly inaccessible grounds into public open spaces were purposely kept to a minum to safeguard functional flexibility.
The aim was to preserve the existing natural and emotional qualities despite an increasing pressure on land use: new low banks, better water quality, extensive retention of existing trees and inconspicuous informal forest paths.
A bridge designed by Tadashi Kawamata, a sculpture by Fischli Weiss and benches by Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur can be regarded as acupunctural interventions in the existing system.
Location: Zellweger-Luwa Areal, Uster, Switzerland
Project phases: Competition 2006 1st Prize, realisation 2010
Client: City of Uster
Landscape: Studio Vulkan (previously Schweingruber Zulauf Landschaftsarchitekten)
Engineering: Staubli, Kurath & Partner
Photography: René Rötheli, Daniela Valentini
