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Pairi-daeza: doors, gates, thresholds
Pairi-Daeza: Tür Tor Schwelle
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:06:43
Abstract
As part of an investigation concerned with the development of Pairi-daeza to the garden typology ‘Paradise’, this semester engages with qualities of doors, gateways and thresholds. For the Papierwerd-Areal in the center of Zürich the students will be asked to design a place, which functions as a gateway or threshold into the city.
Objective
The students will be informed about ways of approaching landscape architecture. In their investigations of different approaches to the subject of doors, gateways, thesholds, they will collect experiences for their personal design project. For the cleared Papierwerd-Areal they will be asked to design a place, which functions as a gateway or threshold into the city and enables a conscious arrival to Zurich from the busy Central Station.
Content
The elective is part of a six-semester investigation concerned with the development of Pairi-daeza (persian for "a wall enclosing an orchard or garden") to the garden typology ‘Paradise’. Following on from the last elective subject of ‘peri- elements of enclosure', this semester engages with qualities of doors, gateways and thresholds. Through research in the cityscape of Zurich the students will be encouraged to sharpen their topological sensitivity and investigate parameters for the designing of thresholds. The task deals with a highlight in the history of city planning in Zurich: the Papierwerd-Areal at the bridge nearby the Central Station, which has been the subject for discussion for decades and was fought over in 1968. Replacing the existing Coop-building (“Globus-Provisorium”) students will be asked to create a free public space that functions as a gateway and frames the beginning of a walk through the city. In a series of lectures territorial, urban/rural, sacred/profane as well as public/private thresholds will be exemplified.
Resources
Lecture Notes
A workbook will be distributed to the students with contains recommended reading as well as background and site information.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC , DS
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Pairi-Daeza: Tür Tor Schwelle |
|
2 h weekly |