Europaallee: Zurich’s Modern "Crates and Cranes District"

While Zurich may not have an oceanfront harbor, it does feature its own bustling logistics hub - Europaallee. Located directly outside the main train station and parallel to the railroad tracks, this district is perfectly positioned for easy access by commuting business people. Adjacent to the city's largest post office, Europaallee is a vital point where goods arrive by rail, trying to infuse the area with the same energy and movement you'd find in a traditional 'crates and cranes district.' 

Europaallee has that textbook modern urban development look—sleek, efficient, and meticulously planned. But while it checks all the right boxes in terms of functionality, it often feels like it lacks the organic character that older parts of Zürich naturally developed over time.

It was designed as a high-density business and residential hub, and while there are efforts to bring in culture (some bars, shops, restaurants and occasional events with street music or markets), it still has that master-planned development feel—like a place that exists because a committee decided Zürich needed more office space near the main station for well-heeled companies like Google and UBS.

Europaallee thrives when there’s effort put into making it lively. In summer, when the city actively animates the space with temporary installations, pop-up markets, and music, it can almost trick you into thinking it has real character. 

But on a grey, drizzly February morning? It reverts to its default state: an efficient, polished, but emotionally flat transit and business district.

You noticed it right, I can't really get excited. Let's go to Zurich West instead, where we can tick off a few items on the Itchy Feet Map:

Crates and Cranes District

Once an industrial zone, Zurich-West has transformed into a hub for trendy loft apartments, art spaces, and innovative architecture. Refurbished warehouses now house stylish living spaces and creative studios.

In the middle of this post-industrial quarter you will find a green spot, Mrs. Gerold's Garden. 

If you're a loyal reader you may be like, wait, that sounds familiar. That's because I blogged about it last spring. 

But who is Mrs. Gerold, you ask? Much like Betty Bossi, the fictional Swiss equivalent of Martha Stewart, Mrs. Gerold is a symbolic figure created for branding. Her name is borrowed from Geroldstrasse, the main street running through this neighborhood.

Frau Gerold's Garten, a popular outdoor eatery and urban garden, was originally created as a temporary pop-up in 2012. It offers a relaxed atmosphere with its bar and seating area built from stacked shipping containers, surrounded by greenery and raised garden beds that supply the restaurant’s ingredients. It’s a unique mix of urban farming, designer shops, and quirky charm, occasionally hosting small concerts. Though, for some, the food offerings could be more varied.

And just next to Frau Gerold’s Garten? Another stack of containers worth noting.

Some Kind of Tower

The Freitag Tower, made from 19 rusted shipping containers, stands just a few meters from Hardbrücke. It was here that the Freitag brothers were inspired by the passing trucks to create bags from recycled truck tarps. Like the bags, the tower is built from reclaimed materials and houses over 1,800 individual items, including bags, smartphone cases, and wallets, across four levels.

Visitors can also take in a spectacular view of Zurich-West from the tower's rooftop terrace—something I have yet to do myself.

For those wanting a more hands-on experience, the Freitag Sweat-Yourself-Shop in downtown Zurich lets customers design their own bags by choosing colors, cutting, and punching parts.

But a few transport containers stacked on top of each other is not a tower, you say?

If you’ve traveled around Western Europe, you may have noticed that skyscrapers are relatively rare. Some cities like London, Frankfurt, and Paris’s La Défense district have them, but most places try to blend new buildings with historic cityscapes.

Enter Zurich's Prime Tower...

Built on a former industrial site, the Prime Tower 126 meters (413 feet) tall with 36 floors. It may not be a massive skyscraper, but standing beneath it, you’ll struggle to fit it into a single shot. I made a detour just to bring you this close-up image!

The Prime Tower is home to well-heeled companies: Banks, lawyers, headhunters and consulting firms, as well as a fitness center and doctors. Interestingly, there was some difficulty in renting out the top floor to a profitable hospitality company, leading to changes in tenancy and the name going from Cloud 9 to simply Clouds. I haven’t yet visited the panorama restaurant during the day, but perhaps it’s a spot better enjoyed at night anyway?

Wrapping up, Paris may have the Eiffel Tower and, and millions of tourists want to visit the Leaning Tower in Pisa, but hey, we have a stack of containers! 

So what's your verdict, how does Zurich compete with "Every European City"?