MFO Park Zürich

The MFO-Park is a public park in the Oerlikon quarter of Zürich. The surrounding area was once home to the extensive works of Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO - a Swiss engineering company known for the early development of electric locomotives). As part of the site redevelopment, four new parks were created, one being the MFO-Park, which was created on the footprint of one of MFO's buildings. The project was designed by the architects Burckhardt + Partner, landscape architects Raderschall and structural engineers Basler & Hofmann AG. 

Raderschall used open-air trellis to add multiple layers to the public park. With steel cable tensile structures holding the vegetation and creating a circulatory network more than 100m long and 17m high. Using the growth habit of multiple vine species to create an immersive and engaging living structure. The perimeter walls are bi-layered, in between the 2 layers are a circulatory matrix of steel stairs and walkways providing access to the upper layers of the structure. Those layers include a sundeck and wooden decked loggias.  The central courtyard is paved in green glass aggregate and has seats, a water feature and inverted conical columns comprised of vine trellises. 

The vine-growing cables are isolated from the main structure by around 50cm to prevent damage to the structural integrity. There are 2 tiers of vines, to retain constant cover of foliage up the entire 17m of structure. The second support tier of vines are trained on a thinner network of cables. A variety of species were chosen and positioned to suit the vine's preferred altitude and growth pattern. A total of 104 perennial vine varieties are included in the project, including a range of vigorous woody vines like Wisteria, Vius, Ampelopsis and Parthenocissus. All plants are irrigated by a holistic system that uses the site's internal watershed. Because of the variety of vine species, the overall effect of the structure is striking seasonally, with a spectrum of foliage colour and texture. 

Personally, I am a fan of the design concept. On a nice weather day, I can imagine being in the structure is very peaceful and rejuvenating however I find the seating and paving choices too synthetic and harsh for my personal taste. The structure itself is welcoming but the inside seems quite impersonal and empty. I am partial to Wisteria, and I like the variety of colours the different species bring to the space throughout the seasons. However, being in Switzerland I assume it would be quite bleak in the wintertime as there is little shelter from the elements. 

In relation to North Place, the transferable ideas I would consider is the use of vines to soften hardscaping. As a precedent example, it shows how successful a green wall can be when the correct planting typology is utilised. Most, if not all of the included vine spaces grow successfully in the UK. With numerous Clematis and Rosa cultivars.  Because of the deciduous nature of most suitable vines in the UK climate, the vines produce seasonally adjustable shade. Providing shelter in months of high sun and heat, and letting in light in the darker months. I can see myself using that technique for the central hub.