In the heart of Zurich’s rapidly evolving Oerlikon district lies an architectural marvel that redefines urban greening and sustainability. The green shade roof in Oerlikon utilizes Jakob Rope Systems’ expertise in stainless steel ropes and nets to transform former infrastructure lines into a climbing structure for greenery. This innovative project exemplifies our commitment to providing green solutions that blend functionality, sustainability, and urban beauty. In this blog post, we explore how the green shade roof project offers a modern approach to urban development, aligning perfectly with the needs of the Jakob Rope Systems US market and our Jakob Webnet technology.

Oerlikon: A Thriving Urban Space

Oerlikon, located in the northern part of Zurich, is an area that is transforming rapidly. Originally an industrial hub, the district is now a diverse urban space combining business, residential areas, and leisure facilities. With a growing population and continuous investment in infrastructure, Oerlikon serves as a transportation hub, with connections for suburban trains, long-distance lines, streetcars, and buses. This ongoing development is paving the way for projects that promote a sustainable urban future, and the green shade roof is a prime example of this transformation.

The Vision for a Sustainable Urban Plaza

The Birchstrasse 230 / Neunbrunnenstrasse 50 site, developed by A & A Liegenschaften AG, features three modern buildings that include residential areas, offices, and educational facilities. At the center of this development is a semi-open plaza, which is now spanned by our green shade roof, creating a multifunctional public meeting place.

This plaza serves as a social and recreational space, featuring seating areas, greenery, flower beds, and even a historic railroad car converted into a restaurant. The addition of the green shade roof has made the plaza more welcoming, providing a cooler, shaded space to escape the sun in summer months, while also contributing to a greener and more sustainable urban environment.

Inspired by the Past: Traffic Lines as a Pattern

The design of the shade roof was created by G8A Architecture & Urban Planning, an international firm known for their innovative and energy-efficient designs. The shade roof takes inspiration from the industrial heritage of Oerlikon. The structure replicates the lines of tram cables and overhead power lines that once crisscrossed the district. By turning these historical traffic lines into a supporting structure made of ropes and stainless steel nets, the architects have created a symbolic connection between Oerlikon’s past and present.

The intersecting suspension ropes run between anchor points on the three buildings surrounding the plaza, transforming a once purely functional infrastructure into a stunning and sustainable architectural feature.

Flexible Shade Roof Made of Tension and Compression Elements

Jakob Rope Systems played a crucial role in the structural design, calculation, and installation of the shade roof. The entire shade roof is made of tension and compression elements, which enable a lightweight, flexible construction that seamlessly blends with the surrounding environment.

Key Features of the Structure

• Supporting Ropes: The tensile forces are distributed across 13 stainless steel supporting ropes, which are anchored to the surrounding buildings.
• Compression Elements: Nine steel columns, realized by BURRI public elements AG, are distributed across the plaza to provide structural stability. Mounted on spherical bearings, these columns carry vertical loads, such as wind forces, while enabling flexibility.
• Climbing Greenery: Plant troughs are attached to the columns, allowing greenery to climb over the stretched ropes and net elements. This greenery provides natural shading and contributes to evaporative cooling in the summer, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional shading systems.

Green and Sustainable Design for a Cooler Future

The green shade roof is a prime example of sustainable urban development. While the roof is not fully covered, the partial greening creates a beautiful interplay of light and shadow, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere in the plaza. The greenery offers evaporative cooling, essential during hot summer months, and helps bind CO2, positively impacting the environment.

Unlike traditional ground-based greenery that would take years to grow up to the height of the steel supports, the architects chose to install plant troughs at the top of the supports. This decision enables the greenery to grow rapidly over the structure, transforming the plaza much faster. To sustain the plants, an integrated irrigation and nutrient system has been built into the supports, ensuring the greenery flourishes throughout the seasons.

The result is an inviting urban area that not only provides shade but also promotes biodiversity, contributing to Zurich’s green urban initiatives.

Jakob Rope Systems: Bringing Green Solutions to the US Market

Jakob Rope Systems is at the forefront of sustainable urban development both in Europe and the United States. Our Jakob Webnet technology, as utilized in the green shade roof at Oerlikon, demonstrates how green infrastructure can improve public spaces. With the flexibility of stainless steel ropes and our expertise in creating lightweight, durable structures, we are proud to be contributing to more livable urban areas.

The Oerlikon shade roof is an excellent example of how Jakob Webnet can be used in urban spaces to offer an innovative and visually appealing solution that supports green initiatives. We are excited to bring these sustainable design solutions to the US market, where urban greening projects are gaining momentum.

Installation Challenges and Techniques

Installing the shade roof required careful planning and execution. All ropes were pre-adjusted to length under pre-tensioning force at our Jakob factory and protected with temporary net sleeves to prevent damage during installation. Due to site restrictions, no ground traffic was allowed, meaning the installation was conducted using telescopic lifting platforms from the roof and adjacent roads.

The installation required our team to work on a hanging rope to secure the ropes to the 22-meter-high building. This approach, although challenging, ensured precision and minimized disruption to the plaza area below.

Technical Specifications of the Shade Roof

• Inner Courtyard Area: Approximately 30 x 60 m
• Spanning Area of Rope and Net Structure: Approximately 250 square meters
• Height of Ropes and Nets: 8 – 10 m above the ground

Jakob Rope Systems Supplied and Installed:

• 13 stainless steel ropes with Forte clevis (19 mm), totaling 250 m
• 16 stainless steel suspension ropes with Forte clevis (14 mm), totaling 120 m
• 8 Webnet elements with 3 mm rope diameter and 80 mm mesh size

Project Partners

• Design: G8A Architecture & Urban Planning
• Client: A&A Liegenschaften Schweiz AG
• Greening: Dr. Alina Schick and Frank Kurer
• Metal Construction: BURRI public elements AG
• Climbing Structures: Jakob Rope Systems

The green shade roof in Oerlikon showcases how urban infrastructure can be reimagined to support sustainable, green urban spaces. By using Jakob Webnet and stainless steel ropes, we have not only honored Oerlikon’s industrial heritage but also provided a sustainable, modern solution for the future. As we continue to expand our efforts across the United States, we look forward to partnering on projects that aim to improve urban livability through green solutions and sustainable design.

To learn more about our projects or explore how Jakob Rope Systems can contribute to your next urban development contact us today.