Freitag Flagship Store
The area of Geroldstrasse is shaped by the various transport networks intersecting it. It contains several scattered smaller buildings for temporary use as well as outdoor storage facilities. The project’s presence enriches the area with a publicly appealing daytime use. By setting the structure back from the street, the span of the bordering wasteland area is defined. While the base contains a retail store, the tower acts as a landmark in the midst of the international rail and road traffic axis. Seventeen previously used international shipping containers were specially selected in Hamburg and transported to Zurich by rail. They were then stacked and mounted from elements used in the shipping industry. Large window openings provide the showrooms with natural light, and allow views in both directions: from the inside out and vice versa. Customers are led past the range of products, consisting of over 1500 bags, to an observation platform approximately 25 meters above ground. The platform offers extraordinary views over the city of Zurich, the traffic, the lake and the mountains.
Freitag started to make tarp-bags in 1993, inspired from a view onto the transit-bridge. In 2006 they decided to sell bags-made-from-tarps in a shop-made-from-containers. Completely built from 17 rusty, recycled freight-containers, selected in person in Hamburg and brought to Zurich by rail. Stacked low enough not to violate the city’s restriction on high-rise, high enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. The way the elements are stacked is authentic, and only connecting elements from the shipping industry are used. This also means that dismantling the tower and leaving the site in its original state will be a straightforward process. Freitag’s decision to locate its flagship store here enriches the area, adding a new, high profile building which is used by members of the public during the day. The view from the roof of the Freitag shop onto the transit-bridge is the same view that started the whole shebang in 1993. For some it’s just noisy. For others it’s a source of inspiration.
Freitag started to make tarp-bags in 1993, inspired from a view onto the transit-bridge. In 2006 they decided to sell bags-made-from-tarps in a shop-made-from-containers. Completely built from 17 rusty, recycled freight-containers, selected in person in Hamburg and brought to Zurich by rail. Stacked low enough not to violate the city’s restriction on high-rise, high enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. The way the elements are stacked is authentic, and only connecting elements from the shipping industry are used. This also means that dismantling the tower and leaving the site in its original state will be a straightforward process. Freitag’s decision to locate its flagship store here enriches the area, adding a new, high profile building which is used by members of the public during the day. The view from the roof of the Freitag shop onto the transit-bridge is the same view that started the whole shebang in 1993. For some it’s just noisy. For others it’s a source of inspiration.
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