Zurich, Switzerland is growing and several new housing developments are popping up like Neu Oerlikon which has several parks within this still-developing community. One of which is MFO Park, a multi-story steel structure with plants doing their best to cover the beams and grating. Not only does this structure give a nod to the areas industrial past but takes a unique multi-disciplinary approach to create an interesting 3 dimensional space.



At the base of the park, there is hardly any vegetation on the ground plane except for some bars of nicely clipped shrubbery that cut in through the steel walls, connecting interior and exterior areas of the structure. Mostly vines sprout out of the ground and climb up cables along the outside and in conical shapes within the interior. A maintenance track midway up the structure along with a second level of beds allows for vines to sprout out from the middle to help with even more greening of the structure.



The structure itself has the appearance of vegetation climbing right on it but by using the cables it keeps the two separated so as not to impact the structural integrity of the frame. The structure also changes depending on what time of the year you visit going from fully vegetated to sparse and even colorful in the fall.




Since I happened to see this space at night (thus why my pictures are so bad), it was really interesting to see how it was used and how it was lit or I suppose I should say not lit. Quite honestly had I not been there with a couple other people I am not sure I would've felt terribly comfortable proceeding up through the structure given all the dark corners. Although the neighborhood itself felt safe aside from being strangely quiet for early evening. Look at the difference here between the inside of the park and the dark street:



The site is all pervious surfacing including one slightly sunken area containing multi-colored recycled glass. The area that sat about 6 inches lower than the rest of the space was edges in corten steel and filled with wood lounge furniture for an outdoor living room feel. A lily pad shaped pond, also edged in steel, was filled with water and wetland type plants for a sort of constructed wetland pond. It felt a little oddly placed and not well integrated.



Open steel frame stairs rise up from ground level and lead to vegetated "hallways" that line three edges of the frame, connected the stairs that lead to each higher level. Along the way, seating benches lined the edges and cantilevered balconies reach out from each level to provide a little seating room in the sky for a small group.




The closer I got to the top, the darker it became. And this is very scary to someone who is not only afraid of heights but is not too keen on walking on those sidewalk grates. It was like my biggest fear, a giant wobbly grate in the sky! I would've liked the structure to 'feel' a little more stable. But as each person walks, the whole thing wobbled and shook. The worst spot however was the very top which was a narrow and steep staircase to a platform on the top of the structure. I had to hold on to my friend as I slowly took each steep riser. At the top there was not a single light except for those below us. In a way it was kind of a cool effect but at the same time I would've welcome even some little twinkly lights or something. It makes it especially difficult for those who have a hard time with heights because the light coming up from below just reminds you how high up you are.




But my fears aside, the whole idea of a 3 dimensional park with fully integrated architecture and multiple levels amidst climbing vines is pretty cool and definitely an idea that should be taken further in the future.