The Circle at Zurich Airport | Zaha Hadid Architects

The Circle at Zurich Airport that is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, takes this dynamic fluid shape in response to two urban conditions. First, the compactness of the form and the continuous adjacency to the airport from one side. Second, is to maximize its perimeter, for the purpose of embracing the nature and taking the maximum advantage of views.  The River ‘flows’ as a continuous curve on one side, as a convex erosion on the other – within, ‘interior urbanism’ promotes interaction between different program elements, incorporating three major ‘canyon’ voids to define entry points and circulation routes. A top-level open plan streetscape houses retail, cafes, and restaurants.

Courtesy of © Zaha Hadid Architects

The building’s “interior urbanism” encourages interaction amongst different programmatic modules and sharing of facilities open to the public, whilst maintaining a practical vertical stacking for each module, aimed at rationalizing services and circulation.

While Clarity of access is of paramount importance, with access to both horizontal and vertical circulation within the complex. These will be related to three major atriums or “canyons” cutting through the building section and merging in the top floor. These “canyons” cover three critically important functions: to highlight the major circulation elements (both horizontal and vertical), to indicate main entry points to the complex, and also to create a variety of floor plans that fit the mixed uses of the building.

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The top level plays is an open floor (Streetscape) that contains retail stores (brand space and showrooms), café, restaurants, “shopping mall” paradigm, Spa and Sky Bar belonging to the 5 start hotel on the north end and exhibition plus restaurant on the south end, act as anchor attractors propagating visitors’ flow throughout the building’s length.

Courtesy of © Zaha Hadid Architects