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Sihlcity - Zuerich's new urban landmark
Zuerich's Sihlcity
Would you like to be at the centre of attention in Zuerich for a few hours?
Then off you go to Sihlcity! Located on the grounds of a former paper factory. Sihlcity was opened in 2007 in Zürich to form a new urban landmark, blending the old with the new and becoming Switzerland’s biggest shopping centre.
The pre-First World War Sihl paper factory – whose chimney stack has long been an icon of the Wiedikon district – has been re-imagined by architect Theo Hotz as a sleek, contemporary, consumer complex on the south side of Zürich.
Set around the old chimney is now a collection of restaurants, bars and cafés, shops, cinemas, a nightclub, a wellness centre and a hotel in 100,000 sq m of refurbished old buildings and modernist steel and glass.
This is no ordinary shopping mall. Hotz has created plenty of outdoor space for café culture to thrive and so the locals can indulge their love for alfresco dining. There are thirteen eateries, ranging from the classy, upscale Rüsterei to the thrilling Imagine grill.
Retail therapy comes in several forms. There are eighty stores and boutiques to hit, covering a broad spectrum. Alternative therapy is also available: you can seek physical and spiritual solace either in the new, multi-faith church on site or in the Asian Spa.
Quirky features include the booths for couples in the nine-screen cinema, funky public seating that balances on end when not in use and looks like an art installation, and TV sets sunk into the floors of the toilets.
The presence of the chic and cheerful 132-room Four Points Hotel, the late-night supper club venue Platins – where 2,000 can whoop it up to hip-hop house and R&B – and a number of private apartments keeps Sihlcity buzzing long after shopping hours.
One day all shopping and leisure destinations will be like Sihlcity – a city within the city open from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday that remains in touch with the wider environment.
It is also connected to downtown Zürich by a new stop on the extended tram system – a move designed to reduce car use and connect the city within to the city without.
For more information on Zürich visit www.zuerich.com or call 0041 215 40 04
Check out other resorts in Switzerland on www.myswitzerland.com/gaylesbian or call international free-phone number 00800 100 200 30
