Spinnerei Jakobstal

Spinnerei Jakobstal

Not too far away from Zurich’s International Airport lie the remains of the former cotton spinning mill Jakobstal. It was originally founded in as early as 1863 and was operational until the year 1982. When it was put in operation more than 150 years ago it wasn’t the first cotton spinning mill in Switzerland by far but one of the first ones that had a steam engine in place to generate the required power for the milling process. The original engine generated 160 horse power and was replaced in 1903 with a 400 horse power strong model that still can be found today hidden in the weather-beaten ruins.

What are these photos about?

What are these photos about?

CRUMBLING RUINS

The relatively short time since its shut down in 1982 has taken its toll on the buildings nevertheless. Countless fires have helped to destroy the place even more. Signs of vandalism is apparent everywhere. More or less talented graffiti artists have left their traces in every possible corner. It is almost surprising that no ghost story about the spinning mill is making its rounds yet as the place seems to be haunted by ghosts of the past.

What are these photos about?

What are these photos about?

A “BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE”

It’s been a bone of contention for local politics for quite some time now as the various stakeholders couldn’t agree yet on what shall happen with it. The new owner initially planned to reuse the buildings for a modern office complex while the authorities put it under a preservation order for historical sites at the same time. After years of uncertainty the case is still not settled although the preservation order has been lifted meanwhile. It is expected that the years of the spinning mill Jakobstal have finally been counted and that its demolition is just a matter of months now.

What are these photos about?

What are these photos about?

INDUSTRIAL ARCHEOLOGY

If you examine the photos closely you will discover several layers in them just like an archeologist would read the different layers in a dried out ancient riverbed on the look-out for a skeleton of a new dinosaur species. While you (hopefully) won’t find a skeleton you still can read the eventful times the spinning mill went through after its close down in the eighties. It’s like reading the pages of an old book that reveals its story to you page by page. Most of the rooftops have come down due to the worm-eaten wooden beams that weren’t able to support the heavy layers of snow during the Swiss winter anymore. Various soot staines bear witness of fires most likely caused by vandals. Empty beer bottles and cigarette boxes make clear that this place exerts a magical pull for young party people as well. Not to mention the one unsettling discovery of countless blood stains on a wall…

What are these photos about?

What are these photos about?

oblivion

Should you live around Zurich and have the opportunity to pay a visit to this unique site, be quick. After all that’s known, its demolition looms in the not to distant future and soon all will turn to dust and will fall into oblivion.