Livio Fürer
My favourite place
In recent years the Werdinsel has grown to become my favourite place in Zurich. An island between the River Limmat and an artificial canal, it connects many different things I like to do on Sundays in all four seasons. Since I’ve been living in the city, my life has revolved around district 6 near the Käferberg, a hill overlooking Zurich. I love the woods and the view of the city. What I like even more is taking a walk right through the woods and then through the neighbourhoods of Höngg until I reach the eastern end of the Werdinsel.
Here’s an interesting fact: The name «Werd» comes from the Old and Middle High German words for island (the «insel» part of “Werdinsel”); only later, after the meaning was long forgotten, was «insel» tagged on. So basically it’s now called Island Island.
In the summer the island is a great place to hang out, not just because you can swim and cool down in the swimming area of the canal or in the river. It’s also worth standing for a while by Höngg weir watching the crowds of people hoisting their rubber boats, unicorns and other floats out of the water, laboriously dragging them overland, and then putting them back in the water below the weir.
Once the weather gets cooler things start to change. Not only do the trees gradually lose their leaves, but you see a different mix of people on the Werdinsel. Gone are the bathers, and their place is gradually taken by animals, especially birds. Along the river you can watch seagulls, ducks and numerous other species of birds that migrate from further north to spend the coldest months of the year in Zurich.
Finally, in spring it’s worth extending your walk a little again and strolling upstream towards the main station. As you see, for me the Werdinsel is a destination, a stopover and a point of departure rolled into one. It’s this variety that makes it my favourite place.
My favourite place
In recent years the Werdinsel has grown to become my favourite place in Zurich. An island between the River Limmat and an artificial canal, it connects many different things I like to do on Sundays in all four seasons. Since I’ve been living in the city, my life has revolved around district 6 near the Käferberg, a hill overlooking Zurich. I love the woods and the view of the city. What I like even more is taking a walk right through the woods and then through the neighbourhoods of Höngg until I reach the eastern end of the Werdinsel.
Here’s an interesting fact: The name «Werd» comes from the Old and Middle High German words for island (the «insel» part of “Werdinsel”); only later, after the meaning was long forgotten, was «insel» tagged on. So basically it’s now called Island Island.
In the summer the island is a great place to hang out, not just because you can swim and cool down in the swimming area of the canal or in the river. It’s also worth standing for a while by Höngg weir watching the crowds of people hoisting their rubber boats, unicorns and other floats out of the water, laboriously dragging them overland, and then putting them back in the water below the weir.
Once the weather gets cooler things start to change. Not only do the trees gradually lose their leaves, but you see a different mix of people on the Werdinsel. Gone are the bathers, and their place is gradually taken by animals, especially birds. Along the river you can watch seagulls, ducks and numerous other species of birds that migrate from further north to spend the coldest months of the year in Zurich.
Finally, in spring it’s worth extending your walk a little again and strolling upstream towards the main station. As you see, for me the Werdinsel is a destination, a stopover and a point of departure rolled into one. It’s this variety that makes it my favourite place.
My story
After a master’s in media, communications science and politics from the University of Zurich and an exchange semester at Waseda University in Tokyo, I took my first agency steps at a small communications agency where I’d worked as a student. For many years during my studies I also got the chance to gain experience in the media industry, both print and online. At open up I’m responsible for clients in different areas including construction, tourism, the automotive sector and education.
livio.fuerer@open-up.ch
+41 44 295 90 42
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