Art in architecture: a project for a residential development in Pfingstweidpark, Zurich, Switzerland

Concept – Art in Architecture – Mobimo AG

Art for Business & Architecture Written by André Wagner
Project image from the archive: Mobimo, Zurich
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START

In spring 2012 I was invited by MOBIMO AG to photograph the neighbourhood “Am Pfingstweidpark”, which was then taking shape. Following in the footsteps of the company’s idea, I took on the challenge of artistically and visually exploring and recording the area during the transition to a vibrant urban quarter.

THE IDEA

These images are more than moments, because none of the photographs were taken in an instant. I use the reflection of time as a guide to my artistic concept. When I make an image of the now, I don't just want to capture the present, I want to document for the future how time passes, influences and the meaning can change. So each of my created works contains the three basic levels of time: past / present / future - expanded with the meaning levels of history / origin / progress.

Before one of my photographs reaches your wall, it goes through a process of evaluation, careful consideration and emotional exploration. The subject and material must also meet your practical needs. Depending on the location, purpose and occasion, this can be a complex undertaking with many factors to consider.

„Photography in Space” is a service I offer to companies.

The extensive project I carried out for the Swiss company Mobimo AG, from the commission in 2012 to completion in 2013, illustrates this service.

I had the opportunity to introduce myself personally to the project management of Mobimo AG to talk to them about the new construction project for the Pfingstweidpark in Zurich West, where a residential complex with a total of 239 apartments was to be built.

I was commissioned to work out my artistic wall concept for the 13 entrance areas in order to transport the outside to the inside.

From the building plans and in collaboration with the architect, Eunkyoung Song, we have created the rooms as a 3D model.

Architectural visualization with photographic art along a staircase wall Three-dimensional architectural model of a stairwell Interior visualization with a photograph of colourful architecture beside a lift Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Interior visualization with a panoramic photograph on a corridor wall Interior visualization with a photograph of city lights at night Interior visualization with a panoramic landscape photograph Architectural visualization with photographic art along a staircase wall Interior visualization with a photograph of city lights at night Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Interior design visualization with a large city photograph on the wall Interior visualization with urban photographic art of an elevated railway Interior visualization with a photograph of city lights at night Architectural visualization with photographic art along a staircase wall Interior visualization with a small photograph of a night landscape Architectural visualization of a stairwell from above Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Large photographic artwork with yellow foliage in an illuminated entrance hall Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Interior visualization with a photograph of city lights at night Panoramic photographic artwork of an illuminated city in an entrance hall Architectural visualization with photographic art along a staircase wall Photographic artwork with green and golden light trails in an interior Architectural visualization of a stairwell from above Interior visualization with a photograph of green landscape and architecture Interior visualization with a landscape photograph of a luminous tree Architectural photographic artwork displayed on a pale wall Interior visualization with photographic art of golden light trails in woodland Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Large urban photographic artwork with roads and light trails in an entrance hall Interior visualization with a panoramic landscape photograph Architectural visualization of an interior with blank wall surfaces Interior visualization featuring a photograph of pink trees Interior visualization with large photographic art of colourful foliage Interior visualization with photographic art of an illuminated woodland Large photographic artwork with yellow foliage in an illuminated entrance hall Interior visualization with photographic art of a building facade against a blue sky Interior visualization with a landscape photograph beneath a blue sky Architectural photographic artwork displayed on a pale wall Architectural visualization of a stairwell from above Interior visualization with photographic art of an illuminated woodland Interior visualization with photographic art of a rocky night landscape on two walls Architectural visualization of stairs beside a glass facade Architectural visualization of a dark room with a window and a door Interior design visualization with a sequence of white human silhouettes

MY VISION AND APPROACH

My vision was to capture the life, the change and the development of the quarter with my artistic style within a radius of 3 km, in order to be able to choose different perspectives and pictures that opened up space. For each entrance area, I wanted to find the perfect picture.

I spent a month exploring the neighbourhood in depth, returning every day to discover more. I wanted residents and visitors to feel invited to share stories about places that might no longer exist by the time they saw the photographs.

Workers and construction equipment on an open concrete floor Work with recording equipment in an unfinished building Person with a camera on a viewing terrace Person at a railing overlooking an urban landscape Photographic work with a tripod on a rooftop terrace Person taking measurements on a concrete wall Photographer using a camera on a tripod in an urban setting Photographer using a camera on a tripod in an urban setting Night photograph of a person with a tripod beside an illuminated building Photographic work with a tripod on a rooftop terrace Photographer with a tripod at a large window overlooking a city Photographer with a tripod at a large window overlooking a city Person with photographic equipment on a leafy path

PHOTOS

During this time, I exposed more than 100 rolls of film and made high-resolution scans of the negatives. I also took many digital photographs.

Afterwards, I presented the project management with a high-quality portfolio with over 100 selected fine art prints.
They commissioned me for the next step: the development of an interior concept using my photographs.

3D rendering with simulated light box 3D rendering with simulated light box Person on a staircase in a strongly shadowed interior Large photographic artwork of rocks and light trails beside a lift

THE CONCEPT

Using the 3D models of the building entrances, our team of four developed a comprehensive artistic concept with several options and a strategy to minimise costs. We considered all the relevant requirements, including fire safety, acoustics and cost control.

Then, in close cooperation with the project management, we put together a selection of proposals based on the given budget, and we also visited the construction site, where work was progressing well, and met with the photography production service provider for an on-site appointment to fine-tune the final details and take the exact measurement.

Unfinished building with columns, conduits and large window openings Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Overhead view of yellow formwork panels on a construction site Yellow excavator on a construction site, seen from above Overhead view of a building site with machinery and workers Overhead view of a building site with machinery and workers Construction scaffolding in front of a glass facade Yellow installation conduits in an unfinished building Yellow installation conduits in an unfinished building Yellow installation conduits in an unfinished building Yellow installation conduits in an unfinished building Yellow installation conduits in an unfinished building Workers and construction equipment on an open concrete floor Side view of a framed artwork showing the frame profile Construction workers beside formwork on a building site Construction workers beside formwork on a building site Construction workers beside formwork on a building site Construction workers beside formwork on a building site Architectural photograph of a long passage with repeating columns Photograph of a red construction crane against a glass facade Construction workers beside formwork on a building site Photograph of pale leaves against a dark geometric facade Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building Concrete walls and passages in an unfinished building

At the beginning of 2013, we presented our final art-in-space concept to Mobimo AG.
With a specially made catalogue with explanatory texts, color schemes and many illustrations, we were able to round off our service in order to make the result of our work tangible beforehand and to be able to communicate better internally.

After the other approvals, the final step was a review of our concept by a Feng Shui specialist from Zurich.

REQUEST A CONCEPT

THE RESULT

The implementation took place in autumn 2013 and we accompanied the installation and implementation personally. The photographs were incorporated into the construction in a theft-proof manner.

The result was 7 large-format wall images in the latex printing process and 13 large-format photographs in the Diasec process, taking into account the corresponding fire protection.

See here for yourself the results of the 13 different entrance areas.

Large photographic artwork with golden traffic trails on a staircase wall Large photographic artwork with golden traffic trails on a staircase wall Panoramic photographic artwork of city lights in a stairwell Panoramic photographic artwork beside a stair railing Panoramic photographic artwork beside a stair railing Panoramic photographic artwork beside a stair railing Panoramic photographic artwork of city lights in a stairwell Residential buildings and paths between multi-storey facades Residential buildings and paths between multi-storey facades Large urban photographic artwork featuring an elevated railway in an entrance hall Panoramic photographic artwork beside a stair railing Large urban photographic artwork featuring an elevated railway in an entrance hall Panoramic architectural photograph on an illuminated interior wall Panoramic photographic artwork of city lights in a stairwell Panoramic photographic artwork of city lights in a stairwell Architectural photographic artwork displayed on a pale wall Photographic artwork of a building facade beside entrance-hall mailboxes Photographic art with architecture and a blue sky in an entrance hall Photographic art with architecture and a blue sky in an entrance hall Photographic art with architecture and a blue sky in an entrance hall Photographic woodland artwork beside mailboxes in an entrance hall Photographic woodland artwork beside mailboxes in an entrance hall Photographic artwork of a garden on a staircase wall Large photographic artwork with golden traffic trails on a staircase wall Large urban photographic artwork featuring an elevated railway in an entrance hall Large urban photographic artwork featuring an elevated railway in an entrance hall Large photographic artwork with golden traffic trails on a staircase wall Entrance hall with large photographic artworks on both sides Panoramic photographic artwork of an illuminated city in an entrance hall Panoramic photographic artwork of an illuminated city in an entrance hall Panoramic photographic artwork of an illuminated city in an entrance hall Panoramic photographic artwork of an illuminated city in an entrance hall Panoramic photographic artwork of an illuminated city in an entrance hall Photographic artwork with green and golden light trails in an interior Large urban photographic artwork with roads and light trails in an entrance hall Large urban photographic artwork with roads and light trails in an entrance hall Large photographic artwork with pink and orange foliage in an entrance hall Large photographic artwork with pink and orange foliage in an entrance hall Large photographic artwork with pink and orange foliage in an entrance hall Large photographic artwork with pink and orange foliage in an entrance hall Large photographic artwork with yellow foliage in an illuminated entrance hall Large photographic artwork with yellow foliage in an illuminated entrance hall Large photographic artwork with yellow foliage in an illuminated entrance hall Night-time architectural photograph with warmly illuminated building facades Download catalogue André Wagner https://www.andrewagner.com Previous

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