(Re-)Introducing Humans: Making Space for Small-Scale Businesses in the CityFrederic Holstein, Noah Martin, Diego Wicki, and Noé Keller
People playing tennis next to the Fernmeldebetriebszentrum Herdern (FBZ III). Source: gta Archive, ETH Zurich.
The Swisscom Data Centre in Herdern, designed by Theo Hotz in 1978, is an architectural landmark. Following its conversion into a data centre, the building has a significantly reduced human presence and conveys an almost abandoned atmosphere.
Although affordable space for small businesses in the city remains scarce, the data centre is not utilised to its full spatial potential.
To gain a deeper understanding of the situation, we conducted interviews, carried out field research and undertook archival studies. This informed a design proposal exploring how the data centre could contribute more effectively to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Herdern, the authors, 2025.