Sihlfeld Courtyard Design
Zürich, Switzerland
The name of the city district Sihlfeld originates from the geological subsoil – a wide, ground water aquifer Schotterfeld, which is a floodplain for innumerable streams and which carry stone residual from Uetliberg with them. The district configuration is not congruent with the geology of the Sihlfeld, which runs north to the Limmat (the lower Sihlfeld) and merges with the ground water floodplain of the Limmatschotter. Until 1787, the lower Sihlfeld belonged to the community of Wiedikon, but with the separation of the Aussersihl, it changed districts. The oblique path (running diagonally to the perimeter developments) is a reminder of the ancient name of the former field, and was accordingly renamed ‘Sihlfeld Street.’ The street extends from the Sihlfeld district diagonally across to the district Hard, which also bears a former field name and differs from the geology of the district description.
Architecture: Schaffner Architect, Zurich.
Client: Public Building Cooperative Zurich, ABZ.
