MFO Park in Zurich - Switzerland

>>>MFO Park

Title	Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon - MFO Park
Place	James-Joyce-Strasse, Zurich Oerlikon
Country	Switzerland
Author	Tatiana Nascimento
Area	6.300 m2 aprox.
Designers	Burckhardt+Partner AG Zurich and Raderschallpartner
Inauguration	2002
Investment	9 million Swiss francs

Why is this case relevant?

"The town of Oerlikon was characterized by industrial buildings until the 1990’s. The park's ownership was used by the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon for about a hundred years, which give the name MFO to this park. The "Park House" occupies the dimensions of the old factory buildings."

The thinking process of demolishing a building to create a park was possible on that time because of the big budget available by the Federation of Switzerland to improve the environment for its population.

"While construction activity was progressing rapidly in the newly formed district, the development process of the quarter itself was slow. With a three-year project, the city of Zurich supported the regeneration process of the parks in New Oerlikon." (Zurich Stadt)

The project was selected in a two-stage internationally announced competition. This is a list of prizes this park won:
2010: European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN) - European Garden Award in the Contemporary Gardens category
2007: Appointment to the International Urban Landscape Award
2006: Good building prize of the city of Zurich
2006: Good construction award in the canton of Zurich - recognition
2004: MAX at the top Vienna, free space 02, 2nd place
2004: Play & Leisure Award Friedrichshafen
2003: Dusseldorf Public Design Award
2003: BDLA prize (Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekten) - Assessment

Oerlikon was characterized by industrial buildings until the 1990’s. This space was used by the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon for about a hundred years, which gives the name “MFO” to this park.
A modern and unusual design in the 2000's with a huge pergola having the visual dimension of the old buildings. The large hallway space mostly pavemented, the pool placed in the back, makes the center of four grown climbers pillars located on the lower level. The intersections of the double walls of steal mixed with climbers are crossed by stairways, walkways, balconies, and lounges.
The aim is to have a nice open space that can be used all day and supports a big amount of people. It’s a space to have concerts or open-air cinemas, as the inside has the visual appearance of old theatre houses.

So far the park has as main use to be visiting card of Oerlikon and relaxation space. What has been observed during the last month is:

People use the park for crossing between the neighborhood and the station.
Sound pollution is constantly disturbing when using the park.
There are some vestiges of vandalism like graffiti and destruction of furniture.

Put new furniture to eat, maybe zones of tables and benches for lunch, as some of the users spend their lunch hour in the park.
Replant the plants that have already died and replace the degraded pavement.
To make tradeshows and traditional markets, with products of the region, for integration of the neighborhood, and also so that people begin to have the sensation of use of the park.
Start bringing fast food trucks or other traveling trades that can evolve in this area (there is already one, less than 500m, with roasted chestnuts and another across the station with kebabs and donners).
Use the space for open-air cinema and concerts or theaters, since its design was inspired by the old theater rooms with cabins.