Zurich on Foot a Walk Through the University District
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Universitätsstr. Sonneggstr. Spöndlistrasse 6 Leonhardstrasse 7 Schmelzbergstr. Weinbergstrasse S te r nw a rt st ra ss e Gloriastrasse Tannenstrasse Central 1* 2 Seilergraben Hirschengraben Zähringerstrasse 8 Karl-Schmid-Strasse Schienhutgasse Limmatquai Gloriastrasse 3 14 Künstlergasse Plattenstrasse Rämistrasse Mühlegasse Attenhoferstrasse 5 4 Pestalozzistrasse 13 arkt um e N Florhofgasse 9 U n t e re Z Steinwiesstrasse ä O u b n e e re Z äu n e Plattenstrasse Cäcilienstrasse Heim- platz Freiestrasse 11 Steinwies- 12 platz Hirschengraben Hottingerstrasse 10 Minervastrasse Rämistrasse Aerial photograph, 2013 0 100 200 300 m Zeltweg 1 Polybahn* 5 Bibliothek der Rechtswissenschaf- 9 Rosa Luxemburg 14 Hirschengraben (deer trench) Student express since 1889 ten (Law Library) «Freedom is always the freedom of the Wildlife park at the city walls The very finest in architecture one who thinks differently.» 2 ETH – Swiss Federal Institute of * When the Polybahn is not in operation, Technology 6 focusTerra 10 Johanna Spyri go by foot along Hirschengraben and Students from around 100 countries The secrets of the earth revealed Heidi and Peter the goatherd Schienhutgasse to ETH. Zurich on foot 3 University of Zurich 7 ETH Sternwarte (Astronomical Ob- 11 Schauspielhaus (Theatre) 7 Paving the way for women students servatory) A long tradition of theatre A walk through the A view into space 4 Harald Naegeli 12 Kunsthaus (Museum of Fine Arts) University District Offending citizens with a spray can 8 The hill of villas Plans for an addition Residential «castles» on Mt. Zurich 13 Rechberg Palace A baroque garden for relaxation 1 Polybahn 8 The hill of villas A walk through the University District Duration of the walk: There are four «mountain railways» in the City of Zurich. With the exception of the Uet- In the second half of the 19th century, Zürichberg (Mt. Zurich) became the preferred Actually, I should know the University District inside out be- approx. 2 hours liberg railway, the oldest is the «funicular railway to the Polytechnic Institute» which be- address for wealthy citizens. Villas and large multi-family homes continued to creep up cause I moved to Zurich in 1976 to study at ETH. But even in gan operation in 1889. It was originally powered with water ballast and was converted the slopes. From an architectural point of view, they were leaning towards Historicism a neighbourhood where you feel right at home, there’s plenty Originally published: 2009 to electricity in 1897. The 176 metre long track travels a vertical distance of 41 metres until around 1910. An impressive example is the double villa «Zum Rosegg» on Mous- to discover or to get a new view of things with the distance of updated: 2014 in just over two minutes and mostly transports members of the university communities sonstrasse, which was built in 1902 by Gustav Gull (1858–1942). The massive structure time. Just stand in front of the filigreed figure by Harald Nae- from the Old Town to the «platform». built of quarry stone with its corner tower, stepped gables and a variety of window geli and it’s hard to believe that just 30 years ago this artwork Imprint Hours: Mon–Fri 6.45 a.m.–7.15 p.m., Sat 7.30 a.m.–2 p.m. shapes imitates a castle from the Middle Ages. In the same style, but incomparably provoked anger and indignation. more monumental, is the Swiss National Museum which Gull built just several years Project management: 2 ETH – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology earlier. Zurich on foot – always a new discovery City of Zurich Civil Engineer- ETH Zurich, founded in 1855 as the Polytechnic Institute, is one of the most internation- Zurich has countless tales to tell, and «Zurich on foot» brings ing Department al universities of Switzerland. Of the 18,000 students in 2013, 37 per cent come from 9 Rosa Luxemburg a few of them to life. In the process, you’ll see that our pedes- Contents and text: more than 110 countries. Foreign countries with the largest contingents of students are The commemorative plaque on the villa trian infrastructure is already quite good, but we want to Mark Wüst, historian, Zurich, Germany (2251), Austria (406), Italy (365), China (331), Greece (244), France(210), India at Plattenstrasse 47, an example of neo- make it even better. Walkways should be designed to be di- [email protected] (180) and USA (155). 21 Nobel Prize winners are connected with ETH Zurich, among classical architecture, is a remembrance rect, safe and attractive and be usable wherever possible them Albert Einstein who used to study and teach here. The ETH Main Building was of a famous woman who lived in this home. with walking aids or baby carriages. Coordination and design: designed by the renowned German architect Gottfried Semper (1803-1879) and was The Marxist Rosa Luxemburg (1871–1919) www.anstalt.ch opened in 1864. Its south wing was home to the university until 1914, and between sublet here from a seamstress for a short A third of all trips within the city are made on foot, and that 1915 and 1924 there was a renovation and expansion project, which added the rotunda time. Starting in 1889, she studied mac- provides proof as to which is Zurich’s most important «means Paper: RecyStar polar, which is crowned by a cupola. roeconomics and law at the University of of transportation»: our feet! 100% recycling paper Zurich and received her doctoral degree 3 University of Zurich in 1897. At the time, this institution was I wish you much enjoyment while out and about. Established in 1833, the University of Zurich began a favourite place for Russian citizens to Rosa Luxemburg speaking at an SPD party congress admitting female students in 1867 – as the first Ger- study, especially women. She left Swit- in 1906. Source: Photo Archive of the Prussian man-speaking university to welcome women. Female zerland in 1897, became a leading theo- Cultural Heritage Foundation. students remained a minority for over 130 years, but retician of German social democracy and City Councillor Filippo Leutenegger the ratio tipped in their favor in 2000 and, in 2013, 57 was a co-founder of the German Commu- Head of the Civil Engineering and Waste Management percent of all students were women. By contrast, the nist Party. She was assassinated together Department teaching staff is still primarily male, with only a 32 with Karl Liebknecht in 1919 in Berlin. Chaise lounge by Pipilotti Rist in the percent female representation. The university’s main university’s atrium courtyard. Photo: building (built 1911–1914) was designed by architect Frank Brüderli, 2008. Karl Moser (1860-1936), and the large atrium with its café is worth a visit. There you can 10 Johanna Spyri Zurich on foot: find an oversized chaise lounge, a work by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist. It is a monument to Besides Harry Potter, Heidi is likely the best-known the first female Swiss lawyer and university professor, Emilie Kempin-Spyri (1853-1901). children’s fictional character in the world. The story 1 The Inner City Hours: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–10 p.m. (during the semester break until 6 p.m.), Sat 7 a.m. –13:30 p.m. of this young girl from the Swiss mountains has until 2 Wollishofen now been translated into around 35 languages and 3 Along the River Sihl 4 Harald Naegeli has been turned into several films. Both Heidi novels 4 Wiedikon In 1977, stick figures suddenly started appearing on (1880/81) were written by the Zurich resident Johanna 5 Aussersihl und Hard the walls of Zurich’s buildings, even though the own- Spyri (1827–1901). The successful author of children’s 6 Limmat and Zurich West ers never asked for them. Up until 1979, the artist books lost her husband and son in 1884 and then 7 University District Harald Naegeli (b. 1939) sprayed his filigreed figures moved into one of the stately Escher homes (Zeltweg 8 Witikon «Heidi» illustration by Rudolf Münger 9 on more than 400 walls of private and public build- 9). Here she led a secluded life and worked intensively (1862–1929). Seefeld ings. His wall murals triggered a veritable scandal at on her books until her death. Today, the Swiss Insti- Source: www.wikipedia.org. 10 Altstetten «Undine» wall mural by Harald 11 the intersection of art and law. In the course of years, Naegeli. Photo: Mark Wüst, 2009. tute for Children and Youth Media of the Johanna Spy- Wipkingen almost all of his murals have again disappeared. One ri Foundation is located at Zeltweg 11. It is dedicated 12 Höngg of his typical works has been preserved on the back of to the research and documentation in the area of chil- 13 Affoltern the Deutsches Seminar (Schönberggasse 9); it shows dren’s and youth literature and has a library which is 14 Oerlikon 23 an extended, seemingly floating female figure which open to the public. 15 Schwamendingen represents the water nymph «Undine». In 1995, the Hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Seebach Cantonal Building Department classified it as worthy of preservation and thus saved a piece of Zurich’s cul- 11 Schauspielhaus (Theatre) 20 2000 Watt Society tural history for future generations. Theatre pieces have been performed at this spot since 1884, initially in a wooden build- 21 All about football ing which was part of the inn «Zum Pfauen». Today’s ornate living and commercial com- 22 With children 5 Bibliothek der Rechtswissenschaften (Law Library) plex with an integrated theatre was built in 1889, and since then it has been expanded 23 All around water A massive building with two impressive entryways was erected in 1909 for the new and modernised many times.