'Self' container destroyed by fire

3rd April 2010

Shortly after 2.15 pm on Good Friday, 2nd April, the Self container for autonomous living and working burned to the ground. The self-contained unit, which is completely independent of mains water and energy services, is a joint project of Empa, Eawag, the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). The unit was located on an area of open grassland adjacent to the Museum for Design in Zurich's District 5. The fire services succeeded in extinguishing the flames but could not save the building (Photo: Stadtpolizei Zürich). Fortunately the hydrogen storage facility was not yet in operation and no one was hurt in the blaze. The Zurich police are investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been triggered by a technical fault. The fire is a serious blow to all involved in the project, in particular the container's two designers, Björn Olsson and Sandro Macchi. They had spent periods living in the unit and as recently as 31st March, their last day at Empa, had been giving guided tours of the 'Self'. At the time of the fire the container was empty. A precise figure on the damage is not expected for a few days but the Zurich police anticipate that the cost will run to several hundred thousand franks.

Self had been toted as an attraction at the Climate Fair, scheduled to run from next Friday to Sunday at Zurich's Main Rail Station. Schweizer Fernsehen is due to air a feature on the container as part of its Einstein series (Thursday 8th April, 9pm).