Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

Shoppi and Tivoli are two separate shopping centres that were built in the 1970s, each on one side of the street in Spreitenbach. Since 2007, the two buildings have been linked by a connecting passage, the CenterMall. Shoppi and CenterMall belong to the real estate fund Credit Suisse REF Interswiss, while Tivoli has various owners. The jointly owned Shoppi Tivoli Management AG has been responsible for managing and operating Shoppi Tivoli since 2001.

Does the place serve its purpose?

Opened in 1970, Shoppi was the first shopping centre in Switzerland. It was initiated by retail pioneer Karl Schweri and designed by architect Walter Hunziker entirely in the spirit of its American models. Tivoli subsequently opened in 1974. Together, the two still form the largest shopping centre in Switzerland today. Every year, around six million people visit the 150 stores united under their roofs.

Is the place distinguished by durable construction and little need for maintenance?

Both of the structures have been standing for about 50 years. Both have been renovated, altered and expanded multiple times since then. Despite criticism since their inception, the two shopping centres have remained intact over all these years. The interiors of the shops and restaurants, by contrast, change frequently. The transience is due to the demands of restaurants and the fast pace of fashion and consumption.

Is the place economically viable in the long view?

The retail trade is in a state of upheaval, and shopping habits have repeatedly changed over the past 50 years. Today we increasingly order online. But Shoppi is also constantly reinventing itself. At first there were bowling alleys, an indoor swimming pool and a prayer room – but over time they were replaced by other amenities. The need for gathering places and public spaces will remain, but today we can only guess what these will look like tomorrow.

Does the place bring different people together?

The use is limited by the nature of the site. The shopping centre is a temple of consumption – those here to shop bring time and money. But the place is also used by young and old as a place to gather, with many cafés and restaurants. A children’s paradise with a bouncy castle and many playthings gets little hearts racing.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

Spreitenbach was one of the first municipalities in Switzerland to have legally binding local town planning in 1960. The regulations drawn up by Klaus Scheifele, then still a young town planner, envisaged a modernist-inspired Neu-Spreitenbach next to the old village centre. The new part of the village also had building land reserved for a shopping centre. The completed town planning and the opening of the autobahn section through the Limmat Valley in the fall of 1970 triggered a huge building boom. The farming village of Spreitenbach grew from a population of around 1,200 in 1957 to a small town with 6,000 inhabitants by 1970. Soon, the Limmattal light rail line will tie Spreitenbach and the other communities in the Limmat Valley even more closely to Zurich with well-connected public transport.

Is the place notable for its distinctiveness?

Today, the shopping centre is located in a commercial zone typical of the agglomeration in the Limmat Valley. Surrounding it are residential buildings from the same period as Shoppi and other large shopping complexes from more recent times. The rails of the shunting yard and the autobahn also dominate the scene. But the agricultural landscape and the forest edge are also nearby. As a result, rural and urban Switzerland meet head-on in Spreitenbach.

Does the place make people feel at ease?

The high number of visitors speaks for itself. With six million visitors each year, this translates into about 20,000 guests a day. Shoppi Tivoli is very popular amongst all generations. The skylights in both Shoppi and the CenterMall have a beneficial effect by providing a link to the outside and bringing daylight inside – a rarity in shopping centres. And the spacious inner courtyards in both malls also contribute to a pleasant stay on the premises.