Kiosk Bürkliplatz
with Jakob Uhlenhopp
The Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen, the Chinese Garden, Le Pavillon Corbusier, the Pyramid, Bellevueplatz, the Maillart Pavilion, and the Kiosk are part of the chain of spectacles that form Zurich's Quai. The Kiosk marks the address of the important intersection of the promenade and Bahnhofstrasse. The Stadthausanlage is much more than a symmetrical grid of trees with a center. Parts of the old gardens break up the formality and size of the square, creating intimate spaces in the lower part of the grounds. The new Kiosk, flanked by gardens on two sides, is located in the most intimate corner of the square. This placement of the Kiosk also allows the Maillart Pavilion of the Swiss National Bank to maintain its prominence while the Stadthausanlage enhances its presence toward Bürkliplatz and Lake Zurich.
The sun projects the warm color onto the white materials of the Kiosk, giving the space differing atmospheres depending on the weather. Under the warm glow of the umbrella you can sit and reflect on the tranquility of the park or the activity along the promenade.
The function of the kiosk is archetypically omnidirectional. The circular Ausgabebuffet is open to all sides but north, where the circle is cut to make for easy access to other important functions such as the toilets, the Marktbüro and technical rooms. In order to make the volume as small as possible, only the necessary elements remain above ground.
