Dimitri Burkhard
As kids, we used to love tree houses and jungle gyms. But when was the last time you have felt the thrill of climbing 17 meters above the ground?
The concept of MFO-Park in Oerlikon is based on vertical dimensions. The architects have devised a giant steel cage resembling the skeleton of a factory building.
This interpretation is no long shot as the former Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon factory used to sit on this very spot for many decades. As a way of adding depth (and shade), climbing plants such as sweet peas or wisteria were planted.
The plants have seemingly taken over the structure by now!
Call it an urban playground for adults, because a myriad of stairs, bridges and platforms invite visitors to explore this microcosm. Some may prefer to take a nap on a lawnchair at vertigo inducing heights, while others prefer a hidden spot in the shade at the base.
We opted for a nap at the very top, which is recommendable only for those who are not afraid of heights...
MFO-Park was built in 2002, but it is often overlooked by tourists (and even by locals).
However, I believe that MFO-Park is urban architecture at its best. It is located less than a five minute walk from the Oerlikon train station in a neighborhood called "New Oerlikon."
Dominik Gehl
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