The ‘FREITAG’ flagship store, a symbol of upcycling and a permanent temporary monument in Zurich, Switzerland, celebrates its 20th anniversary

At *FREITAG*, it is not just lorry tarpaulins that are given a second lease of life. Opened in 2006 in Zurich West—a former industrial area with heavy traffic—the ‘FREITAG FLAGSHIP STORE ZÜRICH’ is constructed from 19 shipping containers that had been stacked up after serving their original purpose. Even now, 20 years after its completion, this flagship store remains a symbol that embodies the philosophy of the 《FREITAG》 brand; it continues to attract people from beyond the city’s boundaries and remains a tourist attraction that is far more than just a hidden gem. To mark this milestone, the exhibition “A SECOND LIFE – Used Materials, New Purposes” is currently being held on the upper floors of the tower. Through previously unseen archive material, visitors can learn about the journey of this Zurich-based upcycling pioneer and trace the eventful story of how this rusted landmark—a long-standing fixture in a city buffeted by waves of gentrification—came into being.

Concept & Idea: FREITAG & spillmann echsle

Architecture: spillmann echsle

Construction, Realisation & Metalwork: Raumbau AG

Structural Engineering: Paul Billeter

Renovation and Structural Engineering since 2014: Exent AG