Hafen Enge: Promenade instead of parking lots
The bank section between the Arboretum and Wabengarten on the left bank of Lake Zurich is to become a wide promenade. So far, a large part of it has served as a parking lot. Now the parking spaces are being relocated to a nearby multi-storey car park and the promenade is being redesigned.
Around a hundred years ago, goods were being handled at the port of Enge on Lake Zurich. Today the Enge harbor promenade is an important link between the arboretum and the honeycomb garden, characterized by a narrow promenade, a kiosk and a spacious public parking lot. With the relocation of the 127 parking spaces to a nearby new building, there is now the opportunity to redesign and upgrade the Enge harbor promenade.
After the participation process, the City of Zurich launched a project competition in autumn 2020, which was concluded in May 2021. The competition task comprised the redesign as a harbor promenade including a replacement building for the kiosk with toilet facilities as well as preparatory work for a planned underground seawater center (pumping station).
The winning project is “Porto Stretto” by the Schmid Kuhn Landscape Architects Working Group, Zurich, and Loeliger Strub Architektur GmbH, Zurich. In its overall concept, the project combines the Mythenquai, the honeycomb garden and the arboretum with the varied sequence of promenades and parks. It gives the Enge harbor promenade its own identity. A restrained equipment should allow adjustments to constantly changing usage requirements.
The kiosk, which is designed as a red, iconic wooden structure, underlines the character of the port facility. The generally accessible arbor of the kiosk with a long bench offers covered seating with a view of the lake at any time of the year. A light poplar grove should provide shade. Perennials and shrubs, unsealed soil and a well should contribute to the urban nature and a good local climate.
The city has already started the project planning work. Construction will actually start as soon as the parking spaces can be relocated – probably at the beginning of 2026.
