ZumikonThe Last Farmer: The Transformation of Walter Senn’s Farmstead into a Communal FarmSofia Gloor and Till Blaser

Walter Senn is the last remaining farmer of Zumikon. Walter runs a farm with 12 cows on 20 hectares of land. He is skilled at his craft and enjoys working with machines and his animals. Subsidies, which in Switzerland usually make up a large part of a farmer’s income, are no longer available to farmers over the age of 65. Without direct payments, farmers are financially forced to transfer the farm to family members or other eligible farmers. Since Walter has no children, he has to give up his farm.

In the 1950s, many agricultural zones were rezoned into building zones by the municipality of Zumikon. This development led to a mass sale of farms along with their land. As a result, the former scattered orchards had to make places for the new houses of the new residents, city dwellers who were looking for a rural retreat close to the urban centre of Zurich. Many single-family houses with gardens were built, and little by little Zumikon transformed into a landscape of houses, streets, front gardens and swimming pools–an urban settlement. Once building plots facing the open landscape were all gone, houses were built around a few remaining fields in order to retain a rural atmosphere. Votes on building projects in recent years indicate that the people of Zumikon hold on to the idea that Zumikon is a village.

Walter is still fit for his age but of course we want to consider that this might not be the case forever. We imagine him as a flaneur through his lands, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends and colleagues. We want to build a community where these two can share their park with others but also find their peace in going after their own activities. Walter should be able to handcraft and repair his beloved machines, Erik should be able to look after his animals. We believe they have the right to exist on this land. What needs to be done to realise this vision? What are the potentials of this place?