Zardoz is a monumental 8-meter-tall sculpture and playground designed by British artist Monster Chetwynd for Kunsthaus Zürich. The work fuses pop culture, science fiction, and feminist themes with the historical tradition of garden follies—architectural curiosities that are imaginative rather than functional. The oversized head recalls cinematic visions and the fantastical creatures of Bomarzo. Rather than demanding reverence, Zardoz is subversive and invites play, curiosity, and reflection.
As the first commission for the Garden of Art at David Chipperfield’s new building, Zardoz transforms the museum’s outdoor space into a ground for imagination and public engagement.
Designed for disassembly and future relocation, the project embodies circular-economy principles through its modular and reversible construction. The sculpture will remain on site until 2027, before continuing its journey to a new location.
Inside, the colossal head offers an immersive experience for both children and adults. A climbing net leads through an oculus to a viewing platform, with a steel slide providing a playful descent.
The form was developed from a 40-centimeter clay model sculpted by Chetwynd, 3D-scanned, and digitally scaled to its final height. More than 10,000 unique components were fabricated to realize the complex geometry. The outer surface consists of a 15-millimeter-thick sprayed glass-fibre-reinforced concrete shell, supported by an optimized network of concrete ribs. Digital fabrication techniques were used to produce the stay-in-place timber formwork that defined both the exterior and internal concrete structure.
Weighing 100 tons, the entire sculpture was divided into 38 transportable concrete elements, each weighing between 800 kg and 3.5 t. The structural concrete ribs are connected using bolted steel plates, enabling the work to be dismantled, transported, and reinstalled elsewhere.
Zardoz by Monster Chetwynd
Zardoz is a monumental 8-meter-tall sculpture and playground designed by British artist Monster Chetwynd for Kunsthaus Zürich. The work fuses pop culture, science fiction, and feminist themes with the historical tradition of garden follies—architectural curiosities that are imaginative rather than functional. The oversized head recalls cinematic visions and the fantastical creatures of Bomarzo. Rather than demanding reverence, Zardoz is subversive and invites play, curiosity, and reflection.
As the first commission for the Garden of Art at David Chipperfield’s new building, Zardoz transforms the museum’s outdoor space into a ground for imagination and public engagement.
Designed for disassembly and future relocation, the project embodies circular-economy principles through its modular and reversible construction. The sculpture will remain on site until 2027, before continuing its journey to a new location.
Inside, the colossal head offers an immersive experience for both children and adults. A climbing net leads through an oculus to a viewing platform, with a steel slide providing a playful descent.
The form was developed from a 40-centimeter clay model sculpted by Chetwynd, 3D-scanned, and digitally scaled to its final height. More than 10,000 unique components were fabricated to realize the complex geometry. The outer surface consists of a 15-millimeter-thick sprayed glass-fibre-reinforced concrete shell, supported by an optimized network of concrete ribs. Digital fabrication techniques were used to produce the stay-in-place timber formwork that defined both the exterior and internal concrete structure.
Weighing 100 tons, the entire sculpture was divided into 38 transportable concrete elements, each weighing between 800 kg and 3.5 t. The structural concrete ribs are connected using bolted steel plates, enabling the work to be dismantled, transported, and reinstalled elsewhere.
Monster Chetwynd (artwork)
Contouro (digital production and project management)
Bürgin Creations, Strabag Holzbau AG (fabrication)
Squadra (architecture)
Büeler Fischli Bauingenieure AG (structural engineering)
Pletscher Metallbau AG (steelwork)
Motorsänger GmbH (playground installation)
Sponsors:
Hans Imholz-Stiftung, Tarbaca Indigo Foundation, Franz und Sophie Albers, Brigit Blass-Simmen und Jeannot Simmen, Kurt und Carine Compagnoni, Dr. h. c. Kaspar M. Fleischmann, Arent Flock, Andreas Friedrich und Bettina Luzzani, Dr. Georg und Josi Guggenheim-Siftung, Frank und Carole Gulich, Peter und Susi Kurer, Fondation Hubert Looser, Sylvie Mutschler -v. Specht, Naef & Partner Holding AG, Mathias und Silvia Thielen, Oliver Wick und René Kim, Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, Hans und Brigitte Wyss-Sponagel
Photography:
Kunsthaus Zürich, Nicole Davidson (ETH Zürich), Urs Wiskemann, Theo Bürgin
Credits:
Credits:
Monster Chetwynd (artwork)
Contouro (digital production and project management)
Bürgin Creations, Strabag Holzbau AG (fabrication)
Squadra (architecture)
Büeler Fischli Bauingenieure AG (structural engineering)
Pletscher Metallbau AG (steelwork)
Motorsänger GmbH (playground installation)
Sponsors:
Hans Imholz-Stiftung, Tarbaca Indigo Foundation, Franz und Sophie Albers, Brigit Blass-Simmen und Jeannot Simmen, Kurt und Carine Compagnoni, Dr. h. c. Kaspar M. Fleischmann, Arent Flock, Andreas Friedrich und Bettina Luzzani, Dr. Georg und Josi Guggenheim-Siftung, Frank und Carole Gulich, Peter und Susi Kurer, Fondation Hubert Looser, Sylvie Mutschler -v. Specht, Naef & Partner Holding AG, Mathias und Silvia Thielen, Oliver Wick und René Kim, Ursimone Wietlisbach Foundation, Hans und Brigitte Wyss-Sponagel
Photography:
Kunsthaus Zürich, Nicole Davidson (ETH Zürich), Urs Wiskemann, Theo Bürgin
Zardoz is a monumental 8-meter-tall sculpture and playground designed by British artist Monster Chetwynd for Kunsthaus Zürich. The work fuses pop culture, science fiction, and feminist themes with the historical tradition of garden follies—architectural curiosities that are imaginative rather than functional. The oversized head recalls cinematic visions and the fantastical creatures of Bomarzo. Rather than demanding reverence, Zardoz is subversive and invites play, curiosity, and reflection.
As the first commission for the Garden of Art at David Chipperfield’s new building, Zardoz transforms the museum’s outdoor space into a ground for imagination and public engagement.
Designed for disassembly and future relocation, the project embodies circular-economy principles through its modular and reversible construction. The sculpture will remain on site until 2027, before continuing its journey to a new location.
Inside, the colossal head offers an immersive experience for both children and adults. A climbing net leads through an oculus to a viewing platform, with a steel slide providing a playful descent.
The form was developed from a 40-centimeter clay model sculpted by Chetwynd, 3D-scanned, and digitally scaled to its final height. More than 10,000 unique components were fabricated to realize the complex geometry. The outer surface consists of a 15-millimeter-thick sprayed glass-fibre-reinforced concrete shell, supported by an optimized network of concrete ribs. Digital fabrication techniques were used to produce the stay-in-place timber formwork that defined both the exterior and internal concrete structure.
Weighing 100 tons, the entire sculpture was divided into 38 transportable concrete elements, each weighing between 800 kg and 3.5 t. The structural concrete ribs are connected using bolted steel plates, enabling the work to be dismantled, transported, and reinstalled elsewhere.