Stainless Steel Ropes in Oerlikon Green Shade Roof | Jakob

Jakob offers a product that is able to meet the requirements of any project in terms of exceptional quality, high performance and great value for investment. Today they specialize in the manufacture of wire ropes from 2 mm to 28 mm for the architectural sector, and the hoist and lifting sector, where they serve more than 55 countries with their products.

Stainless steel ropes and Webnet from Jakob Rope Systems were used in the Oerlikon Green Shade Roof Project, located in Zurich, Switzerland. This project, developed by A & A Liegenschaften AG and designed by G8A Architecture & Urban Planning, integrates sustainability with architectural innovation to redefine urban spaces.

Inspired by Oerlikon's industrial heritage, the shade roof spans a central plaza, repurposing former tram and power lines into a functional and aesthetic urban feature. The semi-open canopy provides cooling shade and supports vertical greenery, fostering biodiversity while enhancing the public realm. Beneath the structure, the plaza offers seating areas, gardens, and a repurposed historic railroad car transformed into a restaurant, reinforcing its role as a vibrant social hub.

To ensure structural integrity and visual lightness, Jakob Rope Systems supplied and installed 13 stainless steel ropes with Forte clevis (19 mm) totaling 250 m, 16 stainless steel suspension ropes with Forte clevis (14 mm) totaling 120 m, and 8 Webnet elements with a 3 mm rope diameter and 80 mm mesh size. The installation, positioned 8–10 meters above the ground, provides a durable yet transparent framework for climbing plants, setting a benchmark for sustainable urban infrastructure.