Zwischenwäscherei

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EXHIBITION
(Audiovisual Installation, Printed Matter)
Zentralwäscherei Zürich

Together with:
D-ARCH Film Festival
Architektura

Sponsors:
Migros-Kulturprozent
Stadt Zürich
sia
Electrolux

The project investigates the politics of interim use in Zurich, delving into the city's history marked by alternative social movements, such as the 1968 and 1980 youth protests. These movements have notably shaped the connection between the city's residents and its urban landscape. Squatting in Zurich has left an imprint on the city’s identity. However, the recent rise in interim use, managed by both public institutionsand private real estate companies, coupled with the simultaneous decline in squatted urban spaces, reveals underlying structures of excessive regulation on alternative spaces, unsustainable city planning, and the deliberate facilitation of gentrification.

The installation comprises a 5m wide circular curtain, crafted and stitched from fabric remnants procured from Zentralwäscherei Zürich (ZWZ), which recently relocated to the outskirts of the city in Regensdorf. On the interior, the curtains showcase illustrations of the history of squatting and temporary use in Zurich. Externally, a continuous image was projected onto the curtain using four projectors, presenting a 16-minute film that encapsulates the essence of the new ZWZ in Regensdorf. This film was created using our own footage captured in May 2023 alongside a collage of sound recordings from the factory machines.

In the evening, the installation transformed into a dynamic stage, enabling various configurations of the space with curtains that could be opened or closed and is adapted by the performers’ needs.

Exhibition