Evoq brings wild animals into Zurich city center for the City Association
On April 15, 2026, the City Association of Zurich launched the summer campaign «City Animals.» Evoq developed the concept, which brings life-size, handcrafted wooden sculptures of native wildlife to the city center. Starting in July 2027, badgers, wild boars, and other animals will populate the city’s storefronts, terraces, and public squares.
A badger, a fire salamander, a wild boar and a hall full of enthusiastic guests. On April 15, 2026, the City Association of Zurich invited guests to the vernissage of the «City Animals» summer campaign and showed the handmade wooden sculptures in their original size for the first time. The evening sent out a clear signal: when Zurich brings its animal inhabitants back to the city center in summer 2027, it will be no ordinary city marketing.
After the guests were greeted by the call of a native badger, Milan Prenosil, President of the City Association, took over and introduced the «City Animals». In summer 2027, the native wild animals will recapture Zurich's city center and populate the shop windows, restaurant terraces, waiting rooms and squares of Zurich in the form of handmade wooden sculptures. «It was important to us to develop a new concept that brings previous summer events into the present and fits in with the city,» adds Dominique Zygmont, Managing Director of the City Association. The aim is to inspire families, tourists and the local population alike and to make the city center a unique experience time and time again.
From the workshop to the stage
The next highlight of the evening was provided by the artists from the Laborraum Pialeto collective, who gave an insight into how the sculptures are made. Each animal is made and glazed by hand in the Zurich Oberland. This makes each sculpture unique and, at the end of the event, participants will own a handmade work of art with its very own character.
Wild animals in the big city - more than just a trend
Sandra Gloor from StadtWildTiere then explained why the topic goes far beyond a creative summer campaign. Urban biodiversity moves society, shapes urban development and stands for a growing longing for nature in everyday life. The «City Animals» idea picks up on this zeitgeist and brings it to life in the heart of the city center. «The sustainability of the campaign was important to us from the outset and part of the briefing, which is why evoq's concept was so convincing,» says Dominique Zygmont, Managing Director of the City Association.
Slam poetry and auction
The second part of the evening belonged to Karla Lamesic, Zurich poetry slam champion, who put the topic of urban nature into words with a slam poetry piece she wrote herself - loud, lively and with a twinkle in her eye. At the end, two of the 15 wooden sculptures on display were auctioned off live among the guests. A tawny owl and a beaver changed hands to loud applause and will now find a new home in the city before the official start of the campaign in July 2027.
Responsible at City Vereinigung: Milan Prenosil (President), Dominique Zymont (Managing Director), Samuel Blum (Communications, Fundraising and Events). Responsible at Evoq Communications: Adrian Schaffner (mandate management), Susanne Pfäffli (creative direction, concept), Dominique Haussener (digital media), Markus Wohlhüter (art direction), Gianluca Flütsch (graphic design), Marcel Marty, Giannina Binder (programming), Daniel Kuster (project management, production). Design and construction: Stefan Schmidhofer, Erika Gedeon (laboratory), Pia Gabriel, Markus «Leto» Meyele (Pialeto). Scientific advice: Sandra Gloor, StadtWildTiere.
