The last gasworks of its kind - Schlieren
Overview
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Intro
At the turn of the twentieth century, the gasworks in Schlieren was the biggest in Switzerland. The largely well-preserved ensemble comprises a number of impressive industrial buildings plus some attractive factory-owned housing – from the director's villa to the workers' quarters.
1898 saw the start-up of Switzerland's biggest energy-producing facility, situated in the floor of the then still largely undeveloped Limmattal valley. As soaring demand for gas called for steady growth in production, the gasworks was progressively enlarged up to the early 1930s. Town gas production in Schlieren was discontinued in 1972 when the city of Zurich switched to natural gas. Having lost its original function, the old gasworks has since been repurposed.
Turmstrasse forms the main axis through the site. It is flanked to the west by large industrial sheds and to the east by smaller operational buildings. The powerhouse also stands here, a dominant presence with a splendid brick facade. The site's landmark buildings are the imposing water tower with its colour-glazed tiling and the 35-metre-tall gasometer. The gigantic coke warehouse, built in 1896 for the National Exhibition, ranks as one of Switzerland's largest nineteenth-century steel structures. The biggest heavily constructed building on the site, however, is the retort and coal house.
The industrial ensemble also includes the elegant director's villa, the four pretty houses for the factory clerks and officials with their spacious gardens, plus the neatly arranged workers' quarters, which are positioned centrally across from the factory entrance and also feature abundant greenery.
Trip tip
As the site of the former gasworks is publicly accessible, those wishing to explore can simply stroll through. Various premises have been rented as shops and warehouses. Climbing aficionados may wish to visit the climbing centre in one of the former factory halls.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
