“A very smart and economically-efficient approach to land reuse” – Holcim Awards Jury
The project’s notoriety lies in its ecological and social qualities as well as its transferability and economic efficiency. The basic idea of revitalizing an existing municipal waste dumping area is unique. The project creates an elevated landscape shaped in large circles that will host manifold sports, recreation and cultural facilities for public use. The planned housing units surrounding the multi-use spaces are designed as earth shelters and therefore will be completely integrated into the landscape with a minimum consumption of energy and materials.
Last updated: June 26, 2008 Zurich, Switzerland
The striking concept includes, in addition to traditional architectural and landscaped elements, the dimension of time as a further design parameter. All buildings and the newly landscaped areas are temporary and designed for relocation and reuse. Such a design approach is visionary and innovative. It fits many other similar situations especially in emerging countries where waste is often disposed in a rather unprofessional way. Overall it is a very smart and economically-efficient solution for the reuse of an otherwise lost and abandoned territory.