Switzerland Train Station: Stadelhofen

The light is a little harsh on these and black and white aggravated it. It was nearly mid-day. Stadelhofen is a really interesting place, and a favourite stop in Zürich for me...

The station was designed by a Santiago Calatrava 1990.

It is around 300 meters long and curved round a hillside in the town center. Very open and naturally lit with walkways above, while providing an open, platform underneath and a shopping complex beneath the whole complex.

It is so impressive and immediately there seems to be a different feel to the complex on entering it. I like the coldness and the mix between the steel and concrete. It is an impacting structure and has a real presence which is more than purely functional. I have seen some criticisms that there is a lack of greenery but somehow it seems OK here and the structure speaks for itself in my opinion.

"This large-scale attack on the urban landscape is characterised by the organisation and repetition on the part of the constructive element."

—Santiago Calatrava.

Stadelhofen is so different in so many ways and it is such a pity that more stations were not paid the same attention as this one. I am not sure why Stadelhofen was considered so special however everyone that transits through here comments on it so the attention to it, definitely has not gone unrecognised.

I think that they are better in colour...

Switzerland: Allotments or Schrebergarten

I have to confess that I had to edit this post based on the comment below who kindly gave me the name of these 'urban farmers' in Switzerland. I now know they are called Schrebergarten.

Because many Swiss live in flats, they somehow feel deprived from owning 'land' and therefore there is an allocation of an allotment close to where they live. Well, not everyone gets one but they are available. Apparently there is a long waiting list to get one.

In short it is about twenty square meteres of land where you can put up a 'hut', because I dont know what else to call it, and plant vegetables, decorate it with whatever odds and ends you find, go there on weekends and barebeque and generally feel like you are a land owner of sorts.

It is a little strange to be honest because Switzerland is a beautiful country and with all the opportunity in the world to be able to walk in the hills or even in the suburbs I cannot imagine why anyone would want to spend a few hours in a small allotment. Having said that though, there is something about planting and feeling close to soil and nature which is perhaps a little irrational in all of us (well most of us).

Schrebergarten are really a little bit of an eyesore. They look dirty and disorganised. Like shanty towns. I dont think that I will be getting one any time soon, but I have to admit that I thought about it on more than one occassion. Perhaps when I come to terms with the real reasons why people do it, I will be ready to myself.... It is the one place where disorder is allowed although it is actually not the case. What you are allowed to construct or use your space for is quite restrictive.

I have gone to photograph Schrebergarten a few times but never see anything I like or which interests me so at this one I stuck my camera through the fence and clicked. A few dirty looks from the suburban farmers and I decided to be on my way....