Today I was at the grand opening of The Circle. The Circle at Zurich Airport follows a year after The Jewel had its inauguration at Singapore Changi Airport.
Both structures are intended as an urban oasis and recreation center in the midst of an international airport. The Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto won the design competition for The Circle in 2009. The slightly inclined facade faces the airport with the intention to reflect the curves of the terminal.
The Circle is not just an urban retreat in the middle of the airport but also a modern city within the airport. Besides a hill with a pond and walking paths arising from its midst, there are high end stores and offices, there are cafes, a convention center, restaurants and two hotels. The critical point is a branch of the University Hospital of Zurich. That in itself is an experiment of the Swiss way of life and health care. Bringing academic and research medicine to the new commercial hub of Switzerland’s biggest airport is being critically and curiously followed by the Swiss press.
The Circle is Zurich Airport’s attempt at being an Aerotropolis.
It is too soon yet to judge or criticize, let’s wait and see how well this concept works. Obviously, as it’s my home turf, I wish it success.
Sources:
John Kasarda, Greg Lindsay: Aerotropolis. The way we’ll live next, 2012.
http://www.riken-yamamoto.co.jp/index.html?page=ry_proj_detail&id=1&lng=_Eng
