Zwicky-Areal, Urban development in Wallisellen and Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Zwicky-Areal is an urban development combining residential and commercial spaces spread across Wallisellen and Dübendorf. The site features different building types organized around mixed-use functions, creating a neighborhood rather than a single unified structure.
The site began as a silk-twisting factory in 1840 under Zwicky & Co., operating for more than 150 years before production shifted abroad around 2001. The industrial buildings were then repurposed into the mixed-use neighborhood that exists today.
The site preserves traces of its industrial past through architectural elements like the Zwicky-branded chimney, which now marks the transformed landscape. These remnants sit alongside modern construction in earth tones, creating a visible dialogue between what once was and what is now.
The site is well-connected by the Glattalbahn Line 12 tram, which provides quick access to transit hubs and the wider Zürich region. Pedestrians will find open paths and gathering spaces throughout the area that make walking around comfortable and straightforward.
Several building blocks of varying heights are deliberately positioned to function as noise barriers against road and rail traffic. This design solution demonstrates how architecture can address practical challenges while remaining visually integrated into the neighborhood.
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