WORK 2017 Natural Occupation

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Natural Occupation

The Gleisfeld in Zurich is undergoing significant change. Europaallee has been developed on a large section of previously unused tracks. Ten percent of the area is designated as public space, while the rest is occupied by offices, residential buildings, and hotels. Other projects on the old Gleisfeld are either in the planning stages or already under construction.

We protest,
against these projects which are the forerunner of a development that is likely to swallow up the whole Gleisfeld edge.

We protest,
against the ongoing privatization of these areas. We protest against the massive housing, office- and commercial buildings that cut the released continuous Gleisfeld outline into small pieces.

We protest,
against the destruction of this area with huge potential due to its enormous scale, central location and unique character. We protest against the fact that this space gets seized by investors before the citizens had a chance to experience it and realize its potentials.

We protest,
by planting trees. With each tree we plant, we occupy some space.

We plant them over the whole area that is released from use. The young trees mark a public space, and are the start of a development with an outcome that is not yet determined. The outcome might be a huge forest seaming the Gleisfeld. But how this forest develops exactly will depend on how people use it. However we know now, that the space will be occupied for the residents of Zurich.

w/ Nina Hsu
Contribution Drawings, Collages, Cast Models, Photography
Format Semesterprojekt
Support Chair of Tom Emerson / Assistant Céline Bessire
Institution ETH Zürich
Date Autumn

EVA SCHNEUWLY

about

Natural Occupation