ZürichseeMore Than Human—Architectures of CohabitationClaire Debons and Xue Jingfan

As Zurich expanded people settled by the shore of Lake Zurich. A rapid population growth led to a highly urbanised lake shore. Although a peri urban activity has developed here, nature also remains present. Where is nature in this landscape? How is this nature produced?

In this urbanised landscape, the tobel appears as a lost element of nature tracing it’s way through the urban fabric. The landscape around the Lake Zurich has been greatly formed by the erosion process of the tobels. While the tobel is also an important part of the anthropogenic scene, a place around which humans have settled over time.

The vineyards are like patchwork in the urban fabric around the Lake Zurich nowadays. They no longer have such a dominant productive role but acts as an important symbol in the surrounding landscape of Lake Zurich, reminiscent people of the local vine culture.

The heavy urbanisation of the shore of Lake Zurich over the past century shaped its contemporary landscape. As there was a strong desire to live closer to nature, private gardens have constituted a major part of the green space in the settlement area along the lake.

The relationship between human and nature is subtle. Where is the boundary between human and nature? As time goes on, the human intervention on nature becomes more and more significant. Human is setting boundaries to nature, while nature has a tendency of trying to grow out of these boundaries.

A catalogue of moments where multispecies cohabit.