4th Semester Project (Professor Tom Emerson), BA Architecture, ETH Zurich
Location
Zurich, Switzerland
Year
2023
With
Nora Stirnimann
Materials
Model (Concrete, Epoxyd Resin), CAD Drawing, Photography
In the heart of Zurich, beneath one of the city’s largest retail stores, Jelmoli, we explored the second and third underground levels, spaces that were hidden, purely functional, and devoid of public presence, serving only storage and technical needs. Our project reimagines these overlooked areas as dynamic environments where architecture, water, and climate converge. During research, we discovered groundwater beneath a section of the third underground level and the delivery area. We removed portions of the foundation to create water-filled spaces that respond to seasonal rainfall and opened up floors and the roof above, forming an impluvium/compluvium system that allows rainwater to fall directly into the underground cistern. Light, sound, humidity, and microclimates transform the subterranean environment, generating new potential for inhabitation. Considering Zurich’s projected 2050 climate, which resembles Naples with +7°C average temperature and intense, short rainfall events, we addressed future acclimatisation by designing a dual system: water-based cooling from the cistern complemented by selective heating via a pump circulating warmed water to upper floors. Flooding scenarios define the use of adjacent spaces: technical rooms remain dry while others may partially or fully flood, encouraging adaptive circulation. Excavated material was reused to create seating, paths, and fragmented surfaces that contrast the original smooth floors, enhancing tactile, visual, and thermal experiences. The courtyard, a familiar typology in Jelmoli, is extended vertically, blurring boundaries between inside and outside, while the sound and movement of water create sensory landscapes encouraging pause, reflection, and respite from the city’s hustle. Over time, these spaces support ecological succession, allowing flora and fauna to inhabit the underground, transforming a hidden, functional, and desolate part of the city into a climate-responsive, sensory-rich environment that integrates architecture, nature, and social experience while anticipating future climatic challenges.