MFO-Park

MFO-Park in Zürich is a public park in the Oerlikon district in the north of the city. It occupies ground where Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO), one of the area's biggest industrial works, operated for roughly a hundred years. Today it anchors the redeveloped Neu Oerlikon neighbourhood and is one of Switzerland's most unusual urban green spaces.

What is the park like?

The centrepiece is a huge open-lattice "park hall" of galvanised steel, open on three sides. It traces the footprint of a former factory building and measures about 100 m long, 35 m wide and 17 m high. Tens of thousands of steel parts and around 330 tonnes of steel went into it, and wire ropes serve as supports for climbing plants.

What will you see?

• Climbing plants covering the frame: wild vine, wisteria and clematis. Green dominates in summer, the vine turns red in autumn, and wisteria blooms in spring.
• Paths, benches and seating inside the structure, plus a sun deck on top with views over northern Zürich.
• An open square beside the hall that locals and office workers use as a meeting place.

Who designed it?

The city launched a design competition in 1998. It was won by architects Burckhardt + Partner together with landscape architects Raderschallpartner, with Basler & Hofmann as structural engineers. The first phase was built in 2001-2002. MFO-Park is one of four new parks created when the former factory grounds were redeveloped.

How do you get there?

The park lies just north of Zürich Oerlikon railway station, a few minutes on foot. Suburban trains from central Zürich reach Oerlikon in around a quarter of an hour. Entry is free and the area is open to the public.

When should you visit?

Late spring to autumn is best, when the plants are in leaf. In summer the area hosts open-air cinema and other events. Autumn brings the richest colours.

FAQ

Is MFO-Park free? Yes. It is a public park with no admission fee.

Why is the park shaped like a hall? The steel structure echoes the size of the old Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon building, recalling the site's industrial past.

Which plants grow on the structure? Mainly wild vine, along with wisteria and clematis trained along steel ropes.

Is there a viewpoint? Yes, a sun deck on top offers views across the north of Zürich.

How long should I plan? Thirty to sixty minutes for a stroll and a rest, longer if an outdoor event is on.