Hardturm by Kraftwerk1

Zurich illustrates an interesting correlation and interplay between the emergence and decay of urban industry and the evolution of new forms of housing commons. Among other aspects, this concurrence is also found in the geolocation.

Many social utopias for worker’s housing appeared in times of early industrialization, also outside of Switzerland. Housing was often provided by factory owners but workers soon started to look for healthy and affordable living conditions themselves.

In this situation also the first housing commons in Zurich emerged. Those housing mostly evolved in close proximity to the factories due to poor public transport.

Urban industry came into crisis in the 1960ties. The population of Zurich decreased. Factories were left empty. Abandoned factories were often squatted and gave room to test new ideas of commoning.

The disappearance of urban industry poses the question of what will be after de-industrialization. These trends offer interesting options for housing commons to realize new projects. In the post-industrial phase, the population of Zurich started to grow again and several new cooperatives were founded, among them the cooperative Kraftwerk1.