Between Zurich’s city boundary and the Überlandstrasse bridge near Dietikon, 3.2 kilometers of the canalized Limmat River are set to regain more space. The revitalization creates diverse habitats, strengthens protection against flooding and drought, and organizes recreation across five designated zones. The construction project entered public consultation in August 2026.
For C-Factor’s project communication, Nightnurse developed a distinctive painterly and illustrative visual language. Drone imagery provides a site-specific foundation, while 3D landscapes and precise compositing show how river spaces, vegetation, paths and human activity will work together. The coordinated perspectives translate the complex spatial and ecological changes into a clear narrative for planners, decision-makers and the public.
Image strategy and concept development
Public-communication visualizations
Photography and drone imagery
3D modeling
Image retouching and compositing
The project combines three goals: more room for a dynamic river and floodplain landscape, better protection against flooding and drought, and attractive recreational areas for local communities. Nature zones, mixed-use areas and five recreational zones organize these different needs. Our visualizations show how main and side channels, gravel islands, vegetation, paths and places to pause will work together.
The image series was developed in close coordination with communication, hydraulic engineering, landscape and environmental specialists. Using drone photography as a foundation, we built key parts of the future river landscape in 3D and refined the vegetation, water, wildlife and human activity through compositing. The series combines technical precision with a distinctive atmosphere, creating a shared basis for planning, political decision-making and public dialogue.
This sequence documents the compositing process. Beginning with a raw rendering, we added the sky and background, river, mist, foreground, island vegetation and wildlife; overlays and color corrections established the final atmosphere.