Anniversary celebrations in Winterthur
We’re proud to have implemented three biodiversity projects in our home city of Winterthur:
- Flora Futura Park – a municipal park that brings biodiversity to life and offers space for learning.
- Green bus shelter roofs that help improve the microclimate.
- Microforests – compact forest areas that create a valuable habitat for the the wide variety of plants and animals in an urban setting.
Flora Futura Park
The approximately 16,000 square meter area at AXA’s head office in Winterthur underwent ecological restoration to serve as new habitat for plants and animals. The park has been welcoming visitors since it opened in May 2025. Visit us and have fun learning interesting things about nature. Both young and old can find something new to discover!
Welcome to Flora Futura Park!
Discover, marvel, relax: in Flora Futura Park you can spend time relaxing while also learning some interesting things about biodiversity. There are 13 stations set up for you to learn about diversity in nature or you can use the interactive web app. Not only can you discover plenty of important information, you’ll also find practical tips on what you can do to actively promote biodiversity. It’s ideal for families and anyone who is curious to learn more about nature and see it from a new perspective.
-
Discovery Trail
The Discovery Trail teaches young visitors about biodiversity in a playful way. The AXA Fox digital guide leads them through six stations and sets out all the various types of biodiversity in the park in a way that’s fun for kids.
-
Take part and win a prize
Learning with us has its rewards! Everyone who follows the Discovery Trail while listening to the AXA Fox and answers all the questions in the accompanying booklet has the chance to win some great prizes. All you need to participate is a cell phone and the quiz booklet when you’re there.
-
Recharge zone
Whether you want to take a walk, meet friends or read a good book, the park is the ideal place to spend some time unwinding. New seating options in the form of cocoons and bird nests create a cozy space to relax where you can sit back and observe the animals in their native habitats.
-
Dogs allowed
Dogs are still welcome in the park. But please keep them on a leash.
Good to know
How can I access information and interactive content?
At Flora Futura Park, all the information is available to you online through the web app. You can find the QR code for the web app at the entrance to the park and also at AXA’s head office on General-Guisan-Strasse 40.
To get the most out of your experience, we recommend you use the interactive web app. You can also find the most important information on the signs in the park.
What languages is the content available in?
The web app is available in German, French and Italian. Please note that the signs in the park are only in German.
The quiz booklet in the park is only available in German. You can find both the French and Italian versions in the web app.
Is the park barrier-free?
Flora Futura Park is barrier-free. However, please note that at the main entrance by AXA head office (AXA Tower) there are stairs between the first and second stations.
If you need a stair-free alternative, you can enter the park using Römerstrasse 17 which has barrier-free access near Stations 5 and 6 in the park. From here you can move about the park freely and also easily return to Station 2.
Are restrooms available?
Public restrooms are located very close to the park. The interactive map of the park shows you their exact location.
When is the park open?
The park is open 24 hours a day all year round and there is no entrance fee. You can visit any time you like to enjoy nature during each of the seasons.
Can I leave feedback?
Yes, you can give us your feedback in the web app under “Feedback.”
Can I also enter the contest online or do I have to submit the quiz booklet’s entry form at the park?
You must go to the park to submit your entry. Once you’ve finished the Discovery Trail, you can fill out the entry form and drop it in the designated mailbox at the exit.
The history of the park
The buildings and parkland at AXA head office are registered as historical sites worth protecting by the city of Winterthur. The park in particular is considered to be a splendid example of 20th century landscape architecture and is an immensely important element of the complex. The park was originally built in the mid-19th century. For this reason, carefully preserving the existing structures was a key aspect of the park renovations.
In order to promote biodiversity and provide more room for nature, the 16,000 square meters of green space surrounding our head office underwent ecological restoration. There are now natural areas, flower meadows and structures such as piles of branches which create habitat for countless animals, including birds and insects.
Another cultural aspect of the head office is AXA’s contemporary art collection, which lends the space sophistication through modern art as it weaves a visible connection between history, nature and art.
In this way, the AXA head office in Winterthur combines tradition with sustainable urban development to create a place wherehistory, art and nature come together.
Green bus stops
A total of five green bus shelters have been erected in cooperation with Winterthur City Bus (in German). The small biodiversity areas have a positive impact on the city’s environment and promote urban biodiversity. You can discover the green roofs at the Haldengut, Strahlegg, Obertor, Im Link and Industriepark bus stops.
What advantages do green bus stops provide?
Green bus stops have numerous positive effects on their surroundings:
- They improve the microclimate and cool down the surrounding area. The plantings on the bus stops lower the temperature on hot summer days to create more pleasant conditions for pedestrians.
- They promote biodiversity: These plantings create tiny habitats for insects, birds and other animals right in the middle of the city, which promotes biodiversity and protects threatened species.
- They store rainwater: Green roofs store rainwater. This takes the pressure off of storm drains and lowers the risk of flooding during heavy rains.
- They improve air quality: Plants filter out fine dust and harmful substances from the air. This means green bus stops help improve air quality and promote a healthier environment for people.
Microforest
In 2025, AXA employees gave up their free time to plant two microforests together with Stadtgrün Winterthur (in German). The two public spaces Am Brisiweg in the Veltheim neighborhood and in Allmend Grüzefeld are waiting to be explored by the public.
What is a microforest?
A microforest is a tiny forested area often within a city that grows into a dense, highly diverse ecosystem within just a few years thanks to the use of a specific planting method. The concept of a microforest comes from the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. The aim is to achieve a large amount of biodiversity in a very small space to improve air quality, regulate the microclimate and create habitat for many animals.
What advantages do microforests provide?
Microforests have numerous positive effects on their surroundings:
- They promote biodiversity: Microforests grow up to ten times faster than forests that are planted the traditional way and become a functioning ecosystem in just two years. This means they are an efficient reforesting method because in a relatively short amount of time they create habitat for plants and animals to promote the biodiversity of cities.
- They improve air quality: Microforests sequester carbon and filter out harmful substances and fine dust particles from the air. And they are natural air conditioners. Water evaporates from trees when it’s hot, which cools the air.
- They also minimize the risk of flooding: Through their dense vegetation and deep roots, microforests help soak up and store rainwater, which improves the soil structure and minimizes the risks of floods.
- They also improve the well-being of humans – green spaces have a positive effect on people’s emotional state. They reduce stress, improve a person’s mood and promote a general sense of well-being.
Future of the projects
The microforests initiated in our anniversary year plus the green bus shelter roofs were launched as pilot projects. They show how selective measures in the urban environment can help promote biodiversity and improve the urban space.
After implementation, the projects were handed over to the city of Winterthur. If they prove successful on a day to day basis, they can be enhanced and expanded together with Stadtgrün and Winterthur City Bus. This means that AXA sees itself as the motivator and enabler of sustainable solutions in the urban environment.
